We know you’re dealing with centipedes invading your space, potentially putting health and property at risk. If you need help identifying and eliminating the infestation at the source, connect with our recommended local professional near you.
House centipedes are fascinating creatures that may surprise you with their diet. These arthropods play an essential role in controlling insect populations in and around your home. Though they may look intimidating, their presence can be beneficial for you.
The main food source for house centipedes consists of various small insects, including flies, cockroaches, and spiders. They’re nocturnal predators, prowling around your home at night to feast on these unwanted pests. This means you can consider house centipedes as a natural form of pest control.
It’s important to note that house centipedes prefer damp and dark areas. They can be found lurking in basements, bathrooms, or closets. If you encounter one, remember that they’re helping to keep the pesky insects in your home under control, making your living space more comfortable.
The House Centipede
The Number of Legs
House centipedes are yellowish-brown creatures with a distinctive shape. They have up to 15 pairs of extremely long legs, with each leg-bearing body segment having only one pair of legs. Moreover, their legs are barbed to help hold prey. Here are some features:
- Up to 15 pairs of legs
- One pair of legs per body segment
- Barbed legs to hold prey
Detection of House Centipedes
These creatures have three dark stripes running along the top of their bodies, which can help you identify them. To detect house centipedes, focus on:
- Yellowish-brown color
- Distinctive shape
- Three dark stripes on the body
The Venomous Bite
House centipedes do possess venom, which they use to paralyze their prey. However, it is important to understand that their venom is not harmful to humans unless you are allergic to it. So, if you encounter one of these creatures, remember:
- They possess venom
- Venom is used to paralyze prey
- Not harmful to humans (unless allergic)
The Centipede’s Speed
These creatures have impressive speed as they can quickly run away and escape predators. House centipedes are known for their agile movements and swift captures of their prey. Keep in mind that:
- House centipedes are fast runners
- Agile and swift in capturing prey
Overall, the house centipede is unique, but it can be helpful to know its features and characteristics so you can identify them and understand their role in the ecosystem.
House Centipede’s Diet
Primary Prey
House centipedes primarily feed on various small insects and arthropods, such as:
- Cockroaches
- Spiders
- Silverfish
- Ants
- Termites
- Moths
- Crickets
- Flies
These creatures are their main source of food, allowing them to thrive in environments where these prey are abundant. For example, house centipedes can often be found in damp areas like basements, where they can easily hunt for insects like silverfish and cockroaches source.
Secondary Prey
In addition to their primary prey, house centipedes also consume other, less common food sources. Some of these secondary prey include:
- Wasps
- Bed bugs
- Earthworms
While they don’t rely on these creatures as much for their sustenance, they may still eat them if the opportunity arises or if their primary prey becomes scarce source.
Comparison Table
| Primary Prey | Secondary Prey |
|---|---|
| Cockroaches | Wasps |
| Spiders | Bed bugs |
| Silverfish | Earthworms |
| Ants | |
| Termites | |
| Moths | |
| Crickets | |
| Flies |
In conclusion, house centipedes have a diverse diet that primarily focuses on common household insects and arthropods. This makes them beneficial in some cases, as they can help control pest populations in your home. However, if you see house centipedes frequently, this may also be an indication that you have a more significant infestation of these insects and should take action to address the issue source.
House Centipedes and Human Beings
House centipedes are usually considered harmless to humans. They are predators that feed on various pests, such as silverfish, firebrats, carpet beetle larvae, cockroaches, and spiders. In this way, they can be beneficial by helping control the population of other insects in your home.
However, there are some concerns when it comes to the interaction between centipedes and humans. For instance, if you accidentally come into contact with a house centipede, it can cause a sharp pain from its bite. The bite is not life-threatening but might lead to an allergic reaction or swelling in sensitive individuals. To avoid these issues, it’s best to keep a safe distance from house centipedes and if centipedes become an issue contact a local pest control company.
In conclusion, house centipedes can be seen as both friends and foes. While they do help control the population of unwanted pests, you should still exercise caution around them due to their potential to inflict a painful bite.
Predators of House Centipedes
House centipedes have their fair share of predators in the wild. These predators help maintain a balance in the ecosystem. Some common predators of house centipedes include:
- Birds: Various bird species find house centipedes to be a tasty snack. For example, sparrows and robins are known to feed on these arthropods.
- Snakes: Small snakes, such as ring-necked snakes and garter snakes, might also enjoy a house centipede for a quick meal.
- Lizards: Lizards, like geckos and brown anoles, are natural predators of house centipedes. They help manage centipede populations in various habitats.
To give you a better understanding of how these predators compare, let’s take a look at a comparison table below:
| Predator | Diet | Habitat | Predation Style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birds | Omnivorous | Forests, cities, grasslands | Aerial, ground hunters |
| Snakes | Carnivorous | Forests, grasslands, wetlands | Stealth, ambush predators |
| Lizards | Insectivorous | Forests, deserts, grasslands | Active hunters, ambush predators |
As you can see, each predator has its own unique way of hunting house centipedes. What they all have in common, though, is their role in keeping centipede populations in check, making them essential contributors to a balanced ecosystem. So, the next time you spot any of these predators in your garden or nearby, remember that they’re doing their part to help keep house centipedes at bay.
House Centipedes’ Habitat
Indoor Habitat
House centipedes prefer damp and moist areas, making them common visitors in your basements and bathrooms. They are arthropods that feed on household pests, which is why you might spot them near baseboards, cracks, or crevices. Protecting your home from these critters can be as simple as sealing any gaps and maintaining a dry environment.
- Damp locations: basements and bathrooms
- Favorite hiding spots: baseboards, cracks, and crevices
- Control measures: seal gaps and reduce moisture
Outdoor Habitat
Although house centipedes can be found indoors, they are initially outdoor creatures. They are more prevalent in the Mediterranean region but can adapt to various habitats. While outdoors, they tend to live in damp, moist areas, where they can hunt for other arthropods using their compound eyes.
Comparison table between indoor and outdoor habitats:
| Indoor Habitat | Outdoor Habitat |
|---|---|
| Basements, bathrooms | Damp areas in the garden |
| Baseboards, cracks, crevices | Under rocks, wood, or leaves |
| Moist environments | Moist environments |
| Infiltration in human homes | Adapt to different environments |
Regularly inspecting your outdoor surroundings for potential house centipede habitats can help prevent them from invading your home. And while they might look scary, these creatures pose no threat to your pets or family, so there’s no need to worry too much about their occasional appearances.
Reproduction of House Centipedes
House centipedes reproduce through laying eggs, with the female house centipede depositing up to 35 eggs in areas with high moisture content. These eggs will eventually hatch into larvae, which go through a series of molting stages before maturing into adults.
During the larval stage, house centipedes undergo several molts. Each molt brings the larvae closer to their adult form. They develop more legs and their bodies grow in size. As adults, they can have up to 15 pairs of legs, with each leg pair belonging to one leg-bearing body segment1.
House centipedes have a relatively short lifespan compared to other centipede species. They can live for a year or more, while some other species may live for several years2. This shorter lifespan means that house centipedes need to reproduce more frequently to maintain their population.
Remember, these arthropods prefer moist environments and feed on various small arthropods like silverfish, firebrats, carpet beetle larvae, cockroaches, spiders, and more3. So, if you come across house centipedes, it’s likely due to the presence of their prey in your home.
In conclusion, the reproduction of house centipedes involves egg-laying, followed by larval development and molting. Adult house centipedes have distinctive long legs that aid in capturing their prey. Their preference for moist environments and diverse diet contributes to their success in various habitats.
Prevention and Pest Control
To effectively prevent and control house centipede infestations, you need a multi-faceted approach. As a homeowner, you should focus on maintaining a clean and dry environment in your home. This will help deter house centipedes and other household pests.
One effective method of controlling moisture levels is using a dehumidifier. By eliminating damp areas and reduce humidity, you can discourage house centipede populations.
Also, keep your home clutter-free. Remove piles of papers, magazines, and cardboard that might be harboring pests. Seal cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior to prevent entry.
Here are a few more prevention tips:
- Regularly clean crumbs and spills from kitchen surfaces and floors
- Dispose of garbage and organic waste in sealed containers
- Fix any leaking pipes or faucets
- Vacuum frequently to reduce potential hiding spots for pests
When faced with an existing infestation, it might be necessary to use chemical pest control methods. If this is the case, choose products labeled for house centipede control and follow the directions carefully.
In conclusion, a combination of preventative measures and targeted pest control methods can help you keep house centipedes and other unwanted pests at bay. Remember, maintaining a clean and dry environment is key to discouraging infestations.
Conclusion
House centipedes are known for their distinct appearance and unique hunting abilities. They primarily feed on other small arthropods, such as silverfish, firebrats, carpet beetle larvae, cockroaches, and spiders, helping to keep their populations in check.
House Centipede Diet:
- Silverfish
- Firebrats
- Carpet beetle larvae
- Cockroaches
- Spiders
In your home, their presence might signal a larger underlying issue with other pests. As a result, it’s essential to address both the house centipedes and their prey in your pest control efforts.
For example, you could take measures to reduce moisture in your home, as many of these arthropods thrive in damp environments. Keep your living spaces clean and free of potential hiding spots for both house centipedes and their prey.
By understanding the feeding habits of house centipedes and addressing any underlying pest issues, you can create a more comfortable and pest-free living space.
Footnotes
16 Comments. Leave new
I have to admit that the house centipede gives me the creeps. It is the one insect that I allow my husband to kill in the house….others get the catch and release treatment. I beg to differ about the venom being harmless. I stepped on one by accident and it burned my bare foot! ICK!
Dear kristi,
Thank you for your frank email and your first hand experience. We should possibly modify our opinion of the House Centipede. We would still never kill one. They are magnificent predators who have no desire to bite humans, though desire might be too anthropomorphized a word to use on a House Centipede. Like many spiders that are considered harmless, not because they are without venom because all spiders are venomous, and not because they cannot bite humans, but because they very rarely bite humans. The bottom line on venom is that we personally believe that different people with different sensitivities (or possibly allergies) and that they may react differently to venom, including that of the House Centipede.
I have several house centipedes living in our house. I consider them our first line of defense against insect pests…I never thought they might help against mice too! They never bother us. They just run across the floor from time to time and when we find one in the bathtub, we carefully catch them in a big glass and release outside. They are very fragile creatures… doesn’t take much to kill them.
Thanks for sending in your observations. As you indicate, House Centipedes are no match for humans who want to dispatch them.
I wanted to respond to this and make an important correction– House Centipedes are the primary predator for Roaches. If you have them, then you have roaches as well. Don’t kill a House Centipede– even though they are very creepy. let them do their job. When the roach population dies, they will move on.
We have been informing our readers for years that House Centipedes will help to control the cockroach populations. Thanks for the affirmation.
I want to respond to Jim and make an important correction to his important correction. While it’s true that house centipedes will prey on roaches, the existence of house centipedes in your property does NOT infer that you also have roaches. There are no roaches in the area of Michigan where I live. However, there is a substantial house centipede population.
This is just misinformation. We live in Canada and have no roaches anywhere and never have. Yet we have an old Victorian home with a massive amount of house centipedes.
What they seem to feed on is spiders, and the spiders feed on them as a natural ecosystem.
Interesting side note, we had mice noticeably in the last year and had an exterminator take care of that. Since that time, the centipede population seems to have increased 2-3 times. I now kill all centipedes but let all the spiders live and things are slowly turning into a balance again.
damn these guys give me the creeps. i saw a huge 1 … little bit bigger thanmy palm attack, kill and take away a roach. gave me the chills…. very scary stuff
Hmm….
This could explain why the mouse population in our house seems to be on the decline, even though I have not set any traps yet…..
And also could explain why we have house centipedes the size of mice.
Very creepy.
We don’t know how common this type of predation would be, but the image illustrates that it is a possibility with large House Centipedes.
Hmm….
This could explain why the mouse population in our house seems to be on the decline, even though I have not set any traps yet…..
And also could explain why we have house centipedes the size of mice.
Very creepy.
We have a similar type of centipede here in new Zealand. Apparently they’re the biggest type in the world they grow up to 300mm long and very regularly in the house hunting mice they’re called soil dweller centipedes but love living indoors when there’s plenty of things to eat, first one i ever saw i thought we were being invaded by aliens haha, beautiful cridders and may be a little dangerous just don’t try handle one with bare hands
If it looks like a house centipede but it’s legs can stick cause seen on wall or ceiling is that what it Is? Looks like a poder and centipede had a baby
House Centipedes can crawl up walls. What is a poder?
We’re in NE Iowa. Have been seeing these for the last 6 months. Never had a clue what they were. I’ve caught them and put them outside. This is the first winter we’ve not had any mice! So interesting! The wooly critter I saw the other day looked about 2″ long.