Related Categories

Safety Products

Please be sure to read the product label of any insecticide you choose to use to get information on the personal protective safety gear you will need. In most situations, it is recommended that you wear long pants, a long sleeved shirt, closed toe shoes with socks, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles. In areas where ventilation is poor, a manufacturer may recommend you wear a mask or a respirator. We have put together two different safety kits that will make selecting the correct safety gear easier for you.

House Centipedes

House Centipede Identification Guide

Learn How to Identify House Centipedes

By DoMyOwn staff
Overview
house centipede look pest

House centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata), also known as "hundred legged worms", are found in many homes across America. While they may not pose a threat to your family's health, they are creepy-looking and can be a nuisance. The first step to getting rid of house centipedes in your home is to properly identify the pest.

In this 4-part guide, we'll help you identify house centipedes, show you where to look for the source of the infestation, how to do pest control treatments to get rid of house centipedes, and steps you can take to prevent them from returning in the future.

Shape
house centipede parts

What do house centipedes look like?

House centipedes have long, thin bodies, and two antennae.

They have 15 pairs of legs (30 legs total), one pair per body segment. The front two legs are used to grab prey. Adult females' last pair of legs are nearly twice the length of the body. These legs have an almost feathery appearance when moving.

Size
house centipede ruler size

How big are house centipedes?

House centipedes range in size from 1 to 6 inches long, including their legs. However, the body of a house centipede may only be between 1-1.5 inches in length.

Color
house centipede look

What color are house centipedes?

The body of a house centipede is a yellowish-brown color with three dark stripes running longitudinally down their backs. The legs are also banded light and dark in color.

House Centipede or Silverfish?

house centipede silverfish compare

If you've seen a long bug with a lot of legs, you may not be sure if it's house centipedes or a silverfish. Here are some quick differentiating features to help you quickly tell each apart.

House Centipedes:

  • Elongated, flattened bodies
  • 1 pair of legs per body segment (30 total legs)
  • Yellowish-brown coloring with 3 dark stripes

Silverfish:

  • Carrot-shaped body
  • 6 legs
  • Metallic-gray coloring

If you have silverfish in your home, see our guide on how to get rid of silverfish for the best treatment options.

Another common pest that could be in your home is a millipede. Check out our guides and products for millipede control in order to identify and treat these pests.

Range
house centipede states

Where do House Centipedes live?

House centipedes are found all over the world. They prefer to live in damp, dark places. This includes basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, and closets. Outdoors, they can be found under rocks, leaves, and in mulch.

17 of 18 people found this article informative and helpful.

Was this article informative and helpful to you?   Yes |  No