The house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, is a common arthropod often encountered indoors, known for its numerous long legs and rapid movement. Many people wonder about their origins and the specific reasons behind their presence within homes. Understanding their natural history and environmental preferences helps explain why these arthropods occasionally become unwelcome houseguests.
Tracing Their Ancestry
The house centipede is believed to have originated in the Mediterranean region, a warm and humid climate. From this native range, Scutigera coleoptrata has expanded its distribution across the globe, establishing populations throughout Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. This widespread dispersal is largely attributed to human activities, particularly trade and transportation, which inadvertently carried these arthropods to new territories.
Their Outdoor World
Outside of human dwellings, house centipedes typically inhabit cool, dark, and damp environments. They are commonly found in natural settings such as under rocks, decaying logs, and leaf litter, as well as in compost piles and garden mulch beds. These spaces provide the necessary moisture and shelter from light. As nocturnal predators, house centipedes play a role in their outdoor ecosystems by actively hunting other small insects and arachnids. The soil immediately surrounding a home’s foundation often serves as a particularly attractive outdoor habitat due to its consistent moisture and shade.
How They Get Inside
House centipedes gain entry into homes through various small openings, leveraging their flexible bodies to squeeze through tight spaces. Common entry points include cracks in foundations, gaps around window and door frames, and openings where utility pipes or wires penetrate walls. Loose siding and uncovered vents can also provide easy access. They often seek refuge indoors when outdoor conditions become unfavorable, such as during periods of extreme heat, cold, or excessive dryness or wetness. While they are sometimes found in drains, it is more likely they entered the home through other means and became trapped there, rather than primarily ascending from sewer systems.
Why Your Home Appeals to Them
Once inside, homes offer specific conditions that encourage house centipedes to stay. A primary draw is moisture, as these arthropods require humid environments to survive and remain active. Areas like basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and crawl spaces, which tend to retain humidity, are particularly appealing.
Homes also provide abundant food sources, which are a significant factor in their indoor presence. House centipedes are predators that feed on a variety of other household pests, including spiders, silverfish, cockroaches, crickets, flies, earwigs, moths, and bed bugs. The presence of these prey insects can indicate a larger pest issue within the home, effectively luring the centipedes inside. Furthermore, dark and undisturbed areas like cluttered spaces, boxes, or areas behind baseboards offer ideal hiding spots for these light-sensitive creatures.