The Scutigera coleoptrata, commonly known as the house centipede, is an arthropod frequently encountered indoors. This long-legged, fast-moving creature can live for several years in human dwellings worldwide. Understanding this animal requires clarifying its role in the home environment, particularly what it actively seeks for sustenance.
Identifying the House Centipede
The house centipede is instantly recognizable by its elongated, yellowish-gray body, which typically measures between one and one-and-a-half inches in length. A striking feature is the presence of three dark longitudinal stripes running down the back of the animal. This segmented body supports up to 15 pairs of very long, delicate legs that increase in length toward the rear, giving the animal a surprisingly large overall span.
These numerous appendages allow the centipede to move with impressive speed, reportedly up to 1.3 feet per second, when startled or pursuing prey. The centipede also possesses extremely long, thread-like antennae that are constantly tapping and sensing the surroundings. As a primarily nocturnal animal, it relies heavily on these sensitive antennae to navigate and locate food in dark, damp environments such as basements and crawl spaces.
The Centipede’s Diet: Primary Prey
The house centipede is a dedicated carnivore, functioning as an active hunter rather than a scavenger within the home. Its diet consists entirely of small arthropods, which it captures and immobilizes using modified front legs called forcipules that deliver venom. This hunting style means the centipede does not consume household materials like wood, fabric, or stored foods.
The centipede preys on a wide array of domestic nuisances. Preferred targets include common household pests and larger insects that it can subdue:
- Silverfish and firebrats.
- Larvae of carpet beetles.
- Small spiders, cockroaches, and crickets.
- Termites and bed bugs.
Beneficial Role as a Household Predator
Because the house centipede feeds on other insects, its presence often serves as a natural form of pest management. A sighting can indicate a larger, unaddressed infestation of other household pests, as the centipede is drawn to areas where prey populations are abundant. They seek out and eliminate creatures that cause property damage or spread disease.
The centipede’s presence is considered a secondary issue, directly linked to the availability of its food. Their hunting activities help reduce the population of problematic insects, offering biological control without the use of chemical treatments.
Habitat Control and Management
Managing the house centipede population begins by addressing the environmental factors that attract both the centipedes and their prey. Centipedes require high humidity to survive, so reducing moisture levels is one of the most effective control methods. Homeowners should use dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements and crawl spaces, and immediately fix any leaky pipes or plumbing fixtures.
Eliminating the centipede’s food source is an equally effective strategy for encouraging them to leave. Trapping or treating for insects like silverfish, spiders, and firebrats makes the house less hospitable. Sealing small cracks and crevices in foundations, walls, and around utility entry points prevents both the centipedes and their prey from entering the living space.
Removing harborage sites, such as piles of stored boxes, excess clutter, or damp wood, also limits the places where centipedes can hide during the day. If environmental controls and prey elimination do not sufficiently reduce the population, a professional pest management inspection can help identify hidden moisture sources or significant pest infestations that are sustaining the centipedes.