Straight answers from a licensed New York exterminator and Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE) — serving all five boroughs, in English and Spanish.
Get a Free Estimate →⏱ 3 min read
Quick answer: Centipedes, including the fast, long-legged house centipede, are moisture-loving predators that hunt insects in damp basements, bathrooms, and crawlspaces. They are largely harmless and beneficial, but their presence signals humidity and a food supply of other pests. Control means reducing moisture, sealing entry points, and managing the insects they feed on.
What do centipedes look like?
Centipedes are elongated arthropods with many pairs of legs (one pair per body segment). The house centipede is grayish-yellow with very long legs and moves in fast bursts, which makes it alarming despite being harmless. They are predators, using modified front appendages to catch prey.
Signs of centipedes
The main sign is seeing the centipedes themselves, often darting across floors or walls in damp areas at night. They tend to appear in basements, bathrooms, and crawlspaces where humidity is high.
Why centipedes appear
Centipedes require moisture and prey. Their presence is a signal: the area is damp and there are other insects for them to hunt. Solving those underlying conditions reduces centipedes.
How to control centipedes
Control is habitat-based: reduce moisture and humidity (fix leaks, add ventilation or a dehumidifier, dry out basements and crawlspaces), seal cracks and entry points, remove clutter and debris that hold moisture, and manage the insect prey they feed on. Because centipedes are beneficial, correcting conditions usually matters more than direct treatment.
When to call a professional
Frequent centipedes often mean a moisture or pest problem worth addressing. A professional can identify the conditions attracting them and treat the underlying moisture and pest sources.
A Brooklyn-based, NYSDEC-registered company (Reg. #15140) led by Jorge Bedoya, an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). For pests in your home or building, NYE provides IPM-based, low-exposure control matched to the exact pest and verified with a follow-up. ACE-led work comes with a client portal of service reports and photos, fully bilingual service, and no long-term contract.
Centipede FAQ
Are centipedes dangerous?
House centipedes are generally harmless to people; they rarely bite and are not a disease risk. They are actually beneficial predators of other household pests.
Why do I have centipedes?
Centipedes need moisture and prey. Their presence usually points to damp conditions (basements, bathrooms, crawlspaces) and a supply of insects for them to eat.
How do you get rid of centipedes?
Reduce moisture and humidity, fix leaks and improve ventilation, seal cracks and entry points, remove clutter, and control the other insects they feed on.
Where do centipedes hide?
In damp, dark places: basements, bathrooms, crawlspaces, closets, and around drains, as well as under debris, stones, and mulch outdoors.
Do house centipedes damage anything?
No, they do not damage structures or food; they are predators. Their significance is mainly the startle factor and what they indicate about moisture and other pests.
More in our Pest Library · Not sure what you have? Try the NYC Pest Identifier. Reviewed by Jorge Bedoya, ACE.
request a free estimate
- Phone: (347) 210-4646
- Email: info@nyepestcontrol.com
- Address: 1115 East 13th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11230