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Quick answer: House centipedes are the fast, leggy yellowish-gray creatures (about 15 pairs of long legs) that dart across floors and walls, especially in damp bathrooms, basements, and around sinks. They look alarming but are harmless to your home and actually beneficial — they hunt other insects. A lot of them usually means excess moisture and other bugs to eat. Centipedes are flat and fast with one pair of legs per segment; millipedes are rounded and slow with two pairs per segment.
What house centipedes look like
A grayish-yellow body about 1–1.5 inches long with very long, banded legs that give it a fast, almost flickering movement. They’re built for speed and prefer dark, humid spots. Most sightings are a single centipede zipping across a bathroom or basement floor at night.
Why do I have house centipedes?
Two reasons: moisture and prey. They thrive in damp areas and eat other household pests — roaches, silverfish, ants, spiders, and small flies. So their presence often signals excess humidity plus an existing insect population for them to hunt. Reduce both and the centipedes move on.
Are they dangerous?
Not really. House centipedes can technically bite if handled, but bites are rare and generally minor — comparable to a mild bee sting for most people. They don’t damage your home or food, and they help control other pests. Many people simply prefer not to share space with them.
Centipedes vs. millipedes
- Centipedes: flatter, one pair of legs per body segment, fast-moving predators that hunt insects.
- Millipedes: rounded, two pairs of legs per segment, slow, and feed on decaying plant matter; they curl into a spiral when disturbed and sometimes wander indoors in large numbers after rain.
How to control them
Target the conditions: reduce humidity (ventilation, dehumidifier, fix leaks), seal cracks around baseboards, pipes, and the foundation, and control the other insects they feed on. Remove their food and dry things out, and the centipedes lose their reason to stay.
Seeing centipedes regularly? They point to moisture and other pests worth addressing. New York Exterminating can handle both with a low-exposure plan, led by an Associate Certified Entomologist (ACE). Call (347) 210-4646 or request a free assessment.
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.
House Centipedes — FAQ
Why do I have house centipedes?
They’re drawn to moisture and to other insects they prey on. Lots of centipedes usually means damp conditions and an existing bug population.
Are house centipedes dangerous?
No — they’re essentially harmless and even beneficial, hunting other pests. Bites are rare and minor.
What’s the difference between a centipede and a millipede?
Centipedes are flat and fast with one pair of legs per segment; millipedes are round and slow with two pairs per segment and eat decaying matter.
How do I get rid of centipedes?
Lower humidity, seal cracks, and control the insects they eat. Removing moisture and prey is more effective than chasing the centipedes themselves.
