Centipedes are predatory arthropods that possess a segmented body with one pair of legs per segment. While many species remain exclusively outdoors, the common house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, has adapted to live near or inside human dwellings. These fast-moving invertebrates use modified front legs, called forcipules, to inject venom and subdue the smaller prey they hunt. Understanding where these creatures live and how they interact with the residential landscape is the first step toward managing their presence.
Environmental Factors Attracting Centipedes
Centipedes are drawn to residential areas due to two primary environmental needs: moisture and an available food source. Unlike insects and arachnids that have a waxy outer layer, centipedes lack this protective cuticle, making them highly susceptible to desiccation. They must seek out microhabitats that maintain consistently high humidity levels to survive. This inherent need for dampness is the main driver for their concentration around the immediate perimeter of a structure.
The second major factor is the presence of other small invertebrates, which are the centipede’s primary diet. Centipedes are active hunters that prey upon spiders, silverfish, springtails, and various insect larvae. A structure’s foundation often provides a sheltered environment where these smaller pests aggregate, creating a stable food supply for the centipedes. This combination of shelter, reliable moisture, and a consistent food chain makes the area surrounding a home a highly attractive habitat.
Specific Outdoor Hiding Spots Near the Foundation
Centipedes thrive in any outdoor location near the home that offers sustained darkness, moisture, and shelter. The foundation perimeter is a prime habitat because it creates a consistent, protected barrier against environmental extremes. Piles of organic material, such as heavy layers of mulch or dense leaf litter, create an insulating layer that traps moisture and heat, offering an ideal refuge.
Woodpiles and stacks of stored materials, including old lumber, bricks, or stones, are also favored spots. Centipedes utilize the dark, damp spaces between the stored items and the soil surface. Similarly, dense ground cover plants and poorly draining flower beds installed immediately against the house provide the necessary shade and moisture retention they seek.
Any accumulation of debris, such as grass clippings or discarded items, creates a habitat where centipedes can hide during the day and hunt at night. By remaining close to the structure, these centipedes are strategically positioned for potential indoor migration. These locations also harbor the smaller insects that centipedes rely on for food.
Common Entry Points Into the Home
Centipedes transition from their outdoor habitats to the indoor environment by exploiting small, structural breaches in the building envelope. The most common entry points involve gaps in the foundation itself, which can occur as the structure settles or due to minor mortar deterioration. Cracks in the basement walls or slab flooring, even those just a few millimeters wide, provide a sufficient pathway for their flattened bodies.
Areas where utility lines penetrate the exterior of the house are also frequent access routes. Gaps around pipes for plumbing, electrical conduits, or air conditioning lines often have imperfect seals that centipedes can easily navigate. Additionally, poorly sealed basement windows, window wells that collect debris and moisture, and worn-out weatherstripping around exterior doors and garage thresholds represent vulnerable points.
Centipedes can also utilize drainage systems, such as floor drains or sump pump openings, especially when these areas are infrequently used and remain damp. Once inside the perimeter, they seek out the high-humidity zones of the basement, crawl space, or ground-floor bathrooms. Their entry is a direct result of exploiting these structural imperfections that connect the moist exterior with the sheltered interior.
Structural Modifications for Prevention
Preventing centipede entry requires a multi-faceted approach focused on removing their outdoor habitat and sealing all potential access points. One of the most effective modifications is habitat reduction, which involves clearing organic material from the foundation’s edge. Mulch and leaf litter should be kept several inches away from the home’s siding or foundation wall to discourage centipede congregation.
Improving drainage around the perimeter is also important. This can be accomplished by ensuring that soil slopes away from the foundation and that gutters and downspouts direct rainwater at least six feet away. This reduces the consistent moisture necessary for centipede survival. Inside the home, controlling high humidity in basements and crawl spaces with a dehumidifier can make the environment unappealing.
Physically sealing the structure is the final step in exclusion. Use a quality silicone or polyurethane sealant to caulk all visible cracks in the foundation and masonry. Install new weatherstripping on doors and replace any missing or damaged screens on foundation vents and basement windows to create a complete physical barrier.