Centipedes are predatory arthropods characterized by elongated, segmented bodies and a single pair of legs on most segments. Locating these fast-moving creatures often means addressing an underlying condition in your home or yard that is attracting them. Centipedes are nocturnal hunters requiring a moist microhabitat because they lack the waxy cuticle that helps insects and arachnids retain water. Understanding where these specialized predators live and what conditions they seek out is the first step in managing their presence.
Identifying Common Species
The most frequently encountered species indoors is the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata). This species is distinctive from its outdoor counterparts, having a yellowish-gray body marked with three dark stripes. It possesses 15 pairs of extremely long, delicate legs that extend past its body length, allowing it to move with exceptional speed. Outdoor species, such as stone or bark centipedes, generally have shorter, thicker bodies and proportionally shorter legs. Although the name translates to “hundred feet,” the number of leg pairs is always an odd number, ranging from 15 up to 191 pairs depending on the species.
Environmental Factors that Attract Centipedes
Centipedes are primarily attracted to areas providing moisture and prey. They require high humidity to prevent desiccation, drawing them into damp areas when outdoor conditions are too dry or saturated. Indoor locations like basements, crawl spaces, laundry rooms, and bathrooms with poor ventilation or leaky plumbing create ideal high-humidity environments. The presence of centipedes often indicates an existing pest problem, as these creatures are generalist carnivores. Their diet consists of smaller arthropods like spiders, silverfish, cockroaches, and ants, meaning they follow their food source into a structure. Eliminating these other household pests removes the primary motivation for centipedes to remain.
Common Hiding Spots
Centipedes are light-sensitive and nocturnal, preferring to hide in dark, undisturbed locations during the day to conserve moisture. Indoors, they frequently seek shelter behind baseboards, in foundation cracks, or in floor drains. They are also commonly found under sinks, behind large appliances like refrigerators, and in cluttered storage areas. Outdoors, centipedes gravitate toward similar dark and damp microhabitats, often found against the home’s foundation. Look for them beneath rocks, landscape timbers, concrete pavers, and in organic debris like leaf litter or mulch near the perimeter.
Safe Approach and Removal
Once a centipede is located, approach with caution; while house centipedes rarely bite humans, they possess modified front legs called forcipules that deliver venom to their prey. For an occasional sighting, non-lethal removal involves using a cup and paper to capture the centipede and release it away from the structure. For recurring issues, focus on exclusion and moisture control. Sealing entry points is a practical step, using caulk to close gaps around pipes, wires, and cracks in the foundation or along window and door frames. Reducing humidity in basements and crawl spaces with dehumidifiers and fixing leaky plumbing will make the environment less hospitable for centipedes and their prey.