Cobb County Extension
 

Centipedes

             House Centipede                                                                Common Centipede

Description

Centipedes are not insects, but are related more closely to shrimp, crayfish and lobsters. Generally, about one inch long, they have a flatted, segmented body, long antennae and are reddish, brownish in color. Even though the name Centipede means 100 legs, they do not have l00 legs.  They have about 15 pairs of slender, threadlike legs, with the first pair of legs located below the mouth and modified into poisonous jaws for killing insects.  One pair of legs is attached to each body segment.

Habitat

The common house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, can be found both indoors and outdoors and is most often seen inside in the fall.  Indoors they prefer damp, dark places such as basements, bathrooms, crawl spaces, and under the bark of firewood.  They are often found outdoors under leaf debris, rocks and logs.  Active and hunting for prey at night, they can move very quickly when disturbed. 

Centipedes are carnivores living on small insects such as cockroaches, moths, small spiders, crickets, slugs, houseflies, and silverfish. They use venom to kill their prey.  The bite can be painful to a human, like a mild bee sting, but is not lethal.  Centipedes do not damage food supplies, plants or household furnishings.  Nor do they carry diseases to humans, pets or plants.  Natural enemies are birds and toads.

Control 

Even though they are not aggressive and are beneficial in that they destroy other insects most homeowners consider them a nuisance.  Centipedes found outdoors should not be controlled.  Control of centipedes in the house should begin with clean up of debris and reducing moisture and humidity in habitat areas such as basements and crawl spaces.  Eliminate woodpiles, mulch and rocks from areas around your home before using pesticides.  Move leaf piles to the back of the property.  To keep insects out of the home caulk all cracks and crevices and make sure windows and doors close tightly.  If centipedes occur in large numbers, sprays or dusts containing diazinon, baygon or sevin applied around the foundation will provide some control.   If treating inside, apply to cracks and crevices along baseboards or where they have been seen in large numbers.  

Interesting facts - Some centipedes can live up to six years, some glow in the dark and some in the Amazon grow over a foot long.  Centipedes can regenerate legs if they are cut off or damaged. 

References:     Bevery sparks, Extension Entomologist, The University of Georgia

                        Eric Day, Insect Identification Laboratory, Virginia Tech

Iowa State University, Department of Entomology

University of Arkansas, Arthropod Museum Notes

Walter Reeves, Gardening in Georgia