The house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is a unique arthropod recognized by its grayish-yellow body, three dorsal stripes, and numerous elongated legs. This swift, nocturnal hunter benefits the home environment by preying on other insects. Although often viewed as a pest, this natural predator is also prey, serving as a food source for a variety of other organisms. Understanding what consumes the house centipede offers a clearer picture of the complex food web operating within and around human dwellings.
Arthropod Predators Found Indoors
The most direct threats to the house centipede come from other arthropods that share its dark, damp habitat, particularly larger spiders. Hunting spiders, such as robust wolf spiders, are capable of overpowering centipedes, especially younger or smaller specimens. Spiders utilize their venom and silk to immobilize the centipede, reversing the typical predator-prey dynamic indoors.
Smaller ground beetles and other generalist insect predators may occasionally target juvenile centipedes, which are more vulnerable than adults. Cannibalism is also a known behavior among centipedes when resources are scarce or an injured individual is encountered. The centipede’s primary defense mechanism is its speed, allowing it to rapidly escape most invertebrate encounters, reaching speeds of up to 1.3 feet per second.
Mammalian and Amphibian Hunters
Outside the home’s main living areas, the centipede encounters mammals and amphibians that patrol basements, garages, and foundation perimeters. The common shrew, a small, insectivorous mammal, is a notable outdoor predator that readily consumes centipedes. Shrews often hunt in the dark, damp areas near a home’s foundation, placing them directly in the centipede’s preferred habitat.
Domestic cats frequently engage with centipedes, treating the fast-moving creatures as stimulating prey rather than a primary food source. This opportunistic hunting by household pets can contribute to population control. Toads and larger lizards also consume centipedes, especially those that venture into damp areas like crawl spaces, as these animals are less affected by the centipede’s venomous bite.
The House Centipede’s Place in the Home Ecosystem
The presence of house centipedes indicates a flourishing food source, as they are drawn indoors by pre-existing pest infestations. House centipedes are voracious carnivores, feeding on a wide variety of household pests, including silverfish, carpet beetle larvae, termites, cockroaches, and bedbugs. They use modified front legs, called forcipules, to inject venom into their prey, quickly paralyzing and consuming the pest. By actively hunting and consuming these common invaders, the house centipede functions as a form of natural pest control. If centipedes are frequently sighted, it suggests a healthy population of prey is sustaining them, meaning addressing the underlying pest issue is the ultimate solution.