PK-H07 · Household invaders
How to get rid of house centipedes
Scutigera coleoptrata
Need a look-alike split? Use House centipede vs millipede, then follow the control sequence on this page.
House centipedes hunt other insects in damp rooms. Dry the space, seal gaps, and reduce prey. Do not fog the house.
Scutigera coleoptrata is the long-legged indoor hunter that runs on bathroom tile at night. It can pinch if grabbed. Outdoor giant centipedes (Scolopendra) in the southern United States are a different animal — shake shoes and towels, and do not handle them. If the animal is slow, cylindrical, and coils after rain, that is a millipede from wet mulch, not this predator. A few house centipedes are a moisture-and-prey signal; many means the leak and the silverfish or cockroach cafeteria are still open.
How to identify House centipede
- Very long legs, striped body, runs on walls, 15 pairs of legs in Scutigera.
- In bathrooms and basements. Not a millipede (flat vs round, speed vs coil).
Signs of an infestation
- A blur on a bathroom wall at night.
- Occasional pinches if grabbed.
Biology and why they show up
Predators. Indoor Scutigera is associated with buildings worldwide. They indicate prey.
Health and property risk
Startle, minor pinch. Large outdoor tropical centipedes: more painful — medical if needed. Not a plague vector.
Proven control sequence
Work in this order. Skipping inspection or exclusion is why most “treatments” bounce back in a week.
- Confirm it is not a millipede. Fast, long-legged, hunts on walls = house centipede. Slow, rounded, curls into a coil after rain = Millipede. Use House centipede vs millipede if you are unsure.
- Dry the edge. Run bath fans to the exterior, fix dripping traps, pull wet cardboard off the floor, and dehumidify a chronic basement toward 50% RH.
- Seal gaps. Door sweeps, pipe collars, and window wells. Centipedes wander in from mulch and foundation cracks.
- Cut prey. If you have Silverfish or cockroaches, those pages are the real job. Sticky monitors along walls show whether the hunt is still open. Keep pets off glue.
- Skip the fogger. Space sprays miss cracks, move insects into new rooms, and do not fix humidity. Vacuum a visible animal if you must; empty outside.
House centipede vs millipede
People search both names after a rain. The control is related (dry the foundation) but the animal is not.
| House centipede | Millipede | |
|---|---|---|
| Look | Flat-ish, very long legs, 15 pairs on Scutigera | Cylindrical, many short legs, two pairs per ring |
| Move | Fast on walls at night | Slow; coils when disturbed |
| Job | Predator of other indoor arthropods | Eats wet dead plant matter |
| Bite | Can pinch if grabbed; outdoor Scolopendra is a different animal | Does not hunt; some species irritate skin with secretions |
| First move | Dry + reduce prey + seal | Pull mulch, dry the slab, sweep |
Full side-by-side: House centipede vs millipede.
Prevention that actually sticks
- Dry bathrooms. Seal gaps.
- Reduce clutter they hunt in.
When to hire a licensed professional
Only if you cannot stand any predators and prey remains — treat the prey species.
United States and Tier 1 notes
Scutigera is a global house species. Large Scolopendra in the southern US outdoors.
Common questions
Is it a silverfish with extra legs?
No. Different class. Centipedes hunt; silverfish eat starch.
How do I get rid of house centipedes in my house?
Dry the basement and bathrooms, seal gaps, and reduce the insects they hunt. Vacuum individuals if you want them gone today. Foggers do not finish a humidity problem.
Are house centipedes dangerous?
Indoor Scutigera can pinch if handled. They are not a plague vector. Large outdoor tropical centipedes in the southern US are a different animal — do not handle those.
Why do I have centipedes in the basement?
Prey plus moisture. A damp insect apartment supports hunters. Fix leaks and clutter before you buy a residual for the predator.
Do I need pest control for house centipedes?
Usually no, unless you cannot find the prey species or the moisture source. A technician who only sprays baseboards is selling a subscription.
How long do house centipedes live?
They can live a few years in buildings if prey and humidity remain. Killing one adult does not close the habitat.
Will they eat my house?
No. They eat other arthropods. Wood damage is a termite, carpenter ant, or moisture story.