Centipedes – Lots of Legs
What is a Centipede?
Centipedes are sometimes called house centipedes or “hundred-leggers” because of their many pairs of legs. They are widely distributed throughout most of United States and the world. Centipedes are rarely seen by humans due to their nocturnal activity and the speed at which they move. Most centipedes live for more than a year and some up to six years.
Tale of the Tape
- Color – Yellowish to dark brown, sometimes with darker stripes or markings
- Legs – 15 – 177 pairs
- Shape – Elongated, flattened, worm-like
- Size – 1/8 – 6” long
- Antennae – Yes
- Region- Found throughout U.S.
Appearance
House centipedes are easy to spot by their elongated, worm-like body with their many pairs of legs. They can have anywhere from 15-177 pairs of legs with one pair per segment, depending on the species. Interestingly, centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs.
In general, the body of a centipede is usually yellowish to dark brown in color, sometimes with darker stripes or markings. The heads of centipedes have a pair of long and sensitive antennae covered with dense hairs. They have small mouths and have large, claw-like structures that contain a venom gland. In fact, some centipedes have compound eyes containing as many as 200 optical units, while others have a cluster of simple eyes on each side of the head or no eyes at all.
There are two representative species. The usual pest species is the common house centipede – about 1-1 1/2” long. Its body is grayish yellow with three longitudinal dark stripes. The house centipede has 15 pairs of long legs. The antennae and last pair of legs are longer than its body. In contrast, the largest centipedes may grow to as much as 6” long. Their legs and antennae are shorter than those of the house centipede.
Behavior
Centipedes typically overwinter outdoors in protected situations and lay their eggs during the summer, usually in or on the soil. Females been known to produce 35 eggs over a period of days.
Centipedes are found in areas of high moisture, such as loose bark, in rotting logs, under stones, in trash or piles of leaves and grass. When they invade homes, centipedes are most found in damp basements, crawlspaces, bathrooms or potted plants.
All centipedes have very poor eyesight and track their prey through the use of touch and smell. Centipedes are primarily carnivorous and obtain most of their moisture needs from their prey. Commonly nocturnal, house centipedes prey primarily on flies, spiders and sometimes plant tissue, causing injury. Centipedes are not likely to consume wood. To be specific, wood eating centipedes are millipedes (see image below). While millipedes do closely resemble centipedes, millipedes are herbivores and survive on dead and decaying plant material, including wood or cellulose material.
Threats
Centipedes are generally considered nuisance pests, as they do not pose significant health or property threats. However, all house centipedes have poison jaws with which they inject venom into their prey.
If handled roughly, some larger species can inflict a painful bite that can break human skin and cause pain and swelling, like a bee sting. The large centipedes can inflict a very painful bite and should be handled with great care.
How to Get Rid of House Centipedes/Millipedes
Centipedes typically leave no direct signs of an infestation other than the sighting of the pest itself.
The most effective way to prevent a centipede infestation is to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home. Remove piles of leaves and grass clippings, logs, stones, and rocks on your property. Store firewood off the ground. Provide adequate ventilation in basements, attics and crawl spaces. Seal holes, cracks and gaps that enable outdoor centipedes to get inside a home.
If a centipede is found indoors, you can get rid of it with a vacuum. However, you should always contact a licensed pest professional, like Millette Pest Control if you suspect an infestation.