centipede

Centipedes 1
Habitat. Centipedes like to be in secluded, damp, and

Centipedes cool places because they easily lose water. Outside
they like to be under cool places including under rocks,
leaves, rubbish, and in organic matter such as compost.
Inside they are likely found in damp basements, cellars,
June 2008 bathrooms and anywhere else that is damp. Centipedes
Erin W. Hodgson, Extension Entomology Specialist (No like to overwinter in these types of places. However, only
longer at USU) • Paul Bingham • Alan H. Roe, Insect the house centipede is known to remain inside year round.
Diagnostician (No longer at USU)
What You Should Know
Fig. 2. The underside

of a centipede, note the claws. Image courtesy of
Georgia Forestry Commission Archive, Georgia Forestry
Fig. 1. Giant desert Commission (www.ipmimages.org).
centipede, Scolopendra polymorpha. Image courtesy of
Whitney Cranshaw, Department of Entomology, Colorado Description.Most adults are 1-2# long, but some can
State University (www.ipmimages.org). be up to 12# long in warm areas. Centipedes have
characteristic body parts that distinguish them from
• Centipedes are predatory relatives of the insects, other arthropods including elongated, segmented and
and are considered beneficial. flattened bodies (Fig. 1). Each segment supports one pair
• Occasionally, centipedes enter homes and become a of legs, with most species having 15 or more segments.
nuisance, but management options are available. Centipedes have distinct mouthparts for eating. Most
• Centipede bites on humans are rare. notably they have enlarged claws that are adapted from
the first pair of legs (Fig. 2). These claws, called forcipules,
Centipedes are long, slender arthropods in the class contain a poison which is injected into prey to kill it. At
Chilopoda. Centipede means “hundred feet” because the posterior end, centipedes have another specialized
they appear to have many legs. Insects, millipedes pair of legs that are elongated and capable of grabbing
and arachnids are close relatives. Centipedes should and holding prey while the forcipules inject the venom.
be considered beneficial because they are exclusively Other identifying features include coloring. Centipedes
predatory. They eat a wide variety of smaller invertebrates, are usually brown or grey in color, but exact coloring and
including insects. However, centipedes may be considered markings vary among species. As well, they have two,
a nuisance to homeowners when they are found inside. highly segmented antennae (Fig. 2).
Life Cycle. Males deposit sperm packets, called
spermatophores, to fertilize eggs. Females deposit 10 to Medical Importance
60 eggs in well hidden, moist areas including under soil or
in decaying organic matter. In temperate areas, egg laying
usually occurs during the spring and summer; however,
in more tropical regions this occurs year round. Eggs
hatch after 1 to 3 three months when immature centipedes
emerge. Young centipedes grow and molt, or shed old
skin, several times before reaching adulthood. Many
North American centipede species hatch with incomplete Fig. 3. The house
number of legs and gain new legs after each molting. centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, can be a common indoor
Some species, in contrast, hatch with a complete number pest. Image courtesy of Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/
of legs, just smaller in size than adults. Centipedes can wiki/House_centipede).
live for several years; some species are known to live as
long as 6 years. Centipedes are generalist predators, meaning they eat a
wide variety of prey. They eat most anything that is small
Utah State University Extension

Centipedes 2
enough and soft bodied, which includes insects and other house centipedes is the only known species that is able to
small animals. Because they eat almost any other small survive completely within homes and buildings.
organism, including many common pests, centipedes are
considered beneficial. However, many people consider Related Research
them a nuisance because of their appearance and
potential for bites. Centipedes are capable of biting
humans, but this is generally of very little concern. Small
centipedes are usually not able to penetrate skin, and bites
from larger centipedes usually only cause minor irritation
similar to mild bee stings. Centipede bite symptoms should
subside within a few hours.
Detection and Management

Centipedes may be difficult to detect because they are
usually present in low numbers, exhibit nocturnal behavior,
and are highly mobile. Centipedes leave no traces such
as feces, eggs or damage to home, furnishings, and
plants. During the daytime, centipedes hide in crevices
or cracks. Visual sightings are the best way to scout for
centipedes. They are commonly found in dark, damp
places in the garden and the home including under logs,
grass clippings, leaves, in damp basements, bathrooms, or
anywhere that is moist.
In the garden, centipedes should be encouraged because
of their beneficial role. To prevent movement from the
garden into the home, stones, mulch and other debris
could be removed from the perimeter of the home,
allowing the air and sun to dry the soil. Centipedes seldom
need to be controlled unless they cause a nuisance in
the home. Indoor centipede control may be warranted if
outbreaks occur.
• Reducing household pests that centipedes eat will
discourage their indoor survival.
• Eliminating places where centipedes live will also help.
Dry out damp areas in the house (e.g., laundry room,
furnace, bathroom, etc.), seal cracks in the foundation and
repair any window/door gaps.
• Spots treatments pesticides should be considered a
last resort for centipede control. Products registered in
Utah for centipedes include: beta-cyfluthrin, bifenthrin,
carbaryl, cypermethrin, esfenvalerate, imidacloprid,
lambda-cyhalothrin, and permethrin.
The most problematic centipede in Utah is the house
centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata. This species is 1-1½#
long and has a yellow-grey body with three brown,
longitudinal stripes on the top of its body (Fig. 3). The
legs of the house centipede are very long and delicate
compared to other centipedes and have dark bands
encircling them. These legs give the house centipede its
characteristic fast speed, which unnerves those who see
it running in their homes. Unlike other centipedes, the
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Centipedes 1

Habitat. Centipedes like to be in secluded, damp, and

What You Should Know

Fig. 2. The underside

Utah State University Extension

Detection and Management

Utah State University Extension

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