Why Are House Centipedes Invading My Home?

Centipedes are fast, covered in legs, and hard to forget once you’ve seen one skitter across the floor. House centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) might not bite or sting like some pests, but their unsettling appearance alone is enough to send shivers down your spine. If you’ve just encountered one, you’re probably wondering, “Why are they in my house?” and “Should I be worried?”

Despite their intimidating looks, house centipedes are simply looking for a place to stay. Like many pests, they’re in search of three things: food, water, and a hidden spot to call home. If your house checks all those boxes, it can quickly become a haven for these many-legged intruders.

Let’s look closer at what draws house centipedes indoors, and what you can do to keep them out.

How Do Centipedes Sneak Inside?

House centipedes aren’t out to terrorize you, they’re just following their instincts. These nocturnal insects spend their nights on the hunt for food and their days hiding in quiet, damp places. They typically slip into homes through small gaps in the foundation, cracks in walls, or open vents and windows. Once inside, they head straight for areas that offer what they’re looking for: a steady supply of prey, a bit of moisture, and places to hide.

Food Trails Often Lead Indoors

Before they become your unwanted housemates, centipedes dwell in gardens, mulch beds, and shaded corners of your yard. But when outdoor hunting grounds run low or prey draws them closer to your walls, they can easily find their way inside.

While they do help reduce pest populations, their presence usually points to a deeper issue: you may have another infestation happening beneath the surface. Think of house centipedes as a sign that your home might already be hosting a pest buffet.

What’s on the menu? House centipedes feast on:

Why Does Moisture Attracts House Centipedes?

House centipedes thrive in humid environments. Outside, they’re drawn to shady, damp areas like under rocks or mulch. Indoors, they seek out basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and other moisture-prone spots. If your home has even a few damp areas, you may be creating the perfect habitat without realizing it.

Here’s how to reduce indoor humidity:

• Fix outdoor leaks: Dripping spigots and leaky hoses can saturate soil and invite moisture-loving pests.
• Maintain your gutters: Make sure they’re clear and draining properly. Overflowing or broken gutters can cause water to pool near your foundation.
• Control yard drainage: Shaded landscaping can trap moisture after rain. Trim back vegetation to allow the sun to dry things out.
• Check indoor humidity: Use dehumidifiers in damp spaces like basements, and ensure bathrooms and laundry areas are well-ventilated.

Why Do Centipedes Hide in Homes?

House centipedes are shy by nature. They prefer to stay hidden during the day, tucked away in quiet, cluttered places. If your home or yard offers enough cover, they’ll stick around. It’s difficult to keep them away entirely, but your two best strategies are to seal up your home and remove any clutter for them to hide in. 

Try these tips to make your property less appealing:

• Tidy up woodpiles: Store firewood neatly and off the ground. Rotting logs and disorganized stacks are centipede magnets.
• Clear out yard clutter: Construction materials, old tools, and unused items provide shelter for pests of all kinds.
• Bring in outdoor toys: Leftover playthings on the lawn trap moisture underneath and offer great hiding spots for bugs.
• Rake up leaves: Damp piles of leaf litter create ideal conditions for the pests that centipedes hunt.
• Mow regularly and pull weeds: Overgrown grass and dense plant beds are an invitation for insects, and the centipedes that eat them.
• Seal entry points: Close up cracks in your foundation, gaps around pipes, and torn window screens. Even the tiniest opening can be a doorway for pests.
• Repair screens or gaps in windows or doors. It doesn’t take a very large gap for a house centipede to get inside.

Where Do House Centipedes Hide Outside?

Despite the name, house centipedes don’t originate indoors. Their journey usually begins outside, in damp, shaded environments like mulch beds, leaf piles, rotting wood, and beneath stones. These bugs love moisture but not light, and prefer to dwell in dark, humid nooks that protect them from the sun and predators.

The area along the edge of your foundation is especially attractive to them, shady, moist, and often rich with other insects they prey on. Once they’re that close to your home, it’s not hard for them to slip inside, especially on hot or dry days when they need a more comfortable climate.

If you want to know how to stop house centipedes from coming in, start by checking the spaces around your yard. Here are some outdoor spots they tend to frequent:

• Ornamental shrubs and garden beds: These attract pests like aphids and mites, which serve as prey for centipedes.
• Landscaping rocks and bricks: Flip one over and you’ll probably see several bugs scurry out. That’s a centipede buffet.
• Open or poorly sealed trash bins: Decomposing waste attracts flies and spiders, and house centipedes follow the food chain.

Think of your yard as a welcome mat. The more cluttered and damp it is, the more likely centipedes will come knocking.

Are House Centipedes Harmful?

Not really, at least not in the way you might expect. House centipedes aren’t aggressive, and they won’t chase or attack you. In fact, their first instinct is usually to flee when they notice human activity.

But that doesn’t mean you should try to handle one. All centipedes, including the house variety, are venomous. While their venom is designed to subdue insects, it can still pack a punch if you try to pick one up. A defensive pinch can feel a lot like a bee sting, sharp, surprising, but usually short-lived.

However, people who are allergic to insect venom may have stronger reactions. If you experience swelling, dizziness, or difficulty breathing after a bite, seek medical help immediately.

Adults might only suffer a mild sting, but small children and pets are more vulnerable. It’s best to make sure they steer clear of any centipedes they come across.

How Are House Centipedes Different Than Other Centipedes? 

There are many types of centipedes out there, but the house centipede is pretty easy to recognize once you know what to look for. Here’s how they compare to their cousins:

• Leg span: House centipedes have remarkably long legs that give them a wispy, almost spider-like look.
• Leg count: They sport 15 pairs of legs, fewer than many other species, which often have 21–23 pairs.
• Speed: These bugs are quick. They can zip along at up to 1.3 feet per second, making them one of the fastest arthropods around.
• Color: Their bodies are yellowish-gray with three dark stripes running down the back, subtler than the bright hues of some tropical species.
• Antennae: Long and slender, their antennae help them feel their way through tight spaces.
• Temperament: Unlike some of their more confrontational relatives, house centipedes are shy and non-aggressive.
• Venom: Their venom is mild compared to larger centipede species and rarely causes serious harm.

Kick Centipedes Out for Good

Spotted one racing across the floor? You might not just have a centipede problem, you could have an underlying pest issue they’re feeding on. The best way to break the cycle is to address it at the source.

If you want to get to the bottom of your pest problem, reach out to your local pest control professionals. Our team knows how to handle centipedes and the pests that attract them. We’ll inspect your property, uncover hidden infestations, and design a control strategy tailored to your home’s needs.

Contact us today to schedule your inspection, and send those centipedes packing.