While they do not cause damage to furniture or food, the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) can be alarming due to their appearance and frightening speed. They reproduce quickly and can become a nuisance if not treated.
Typically, house centipedes live outdoors, but they may have entered your home in search of food or shelter. Often, the house centipede is seen in damp areas in and around homes.
Read below to find out where to look to find the source of your house centipede infestation and then read our guide on How to Get Rid of House Centipedes for the best treatment solutions.
Where to Look for House Centipedes in Your Home
The best way to locate the source of a house centipede infestation is to look for them at night with a flashlight. They are nocturnal creatures and will be hiding during the day.
In your home, look for them in dark, cool, and damp locations. This includes:
- Basements
- Crawl spaces
- Closets
- Bathrooms
- In floor drains
- Around concrete slab expansion cracks and sump pump openings
- Where pipes enter the home
Another way to find the source of your infestation is to look for their egg sacs. These are small, white, and oval-shaped. They are usually found in groups.
Look for Their Food Sources
House centipedes are attracted to homes that have a lot of insects. They will come into homes in search of food. They feed on spiders, silverfish, carpet beetle larvae, roaches, and other small pests.
If you have a house centipede problem, you likely have an insect problem as well. Inspect your home for insects and seal up any cracks or openings where they can get in. You may need to apply a preventative pest control treatment to eliminate these other pests. By eliminating their food source, you can make your home less hospitable and welcoming to house centipedes.