Outdoor centipedes prefer to live in damp places such as under leaves, mulch, rotting wood, and outdoor plants. Occasionally, centipedes will crawl inside if they find a crack or gap around the foundation of your house. If you notice centipedes in your home or building, you are more than likely dealing with a house centipede. Similar to outdoor centipedes, house centipedes like to live in damp places as well. These centipedes will live their entire lives indoors and are frequently found in basements, cellars, bathrooms, and closets.

Centipedes prefer to eat other insects and small bugs. Although they have poor vision, centipedes have highly sensitive antennae, which allows them to locate their prey. Once found, centipedes will poison their prey with venom from their claws. Spiders, worms, silverfish, roaches, crickets, and even other centipedes are often preyed upon by centipedes. Because they prey on common household pests, centipedes can be considered quite beneficial.

In the spring, centipedes will lay eggs in the same damp places they like to call home. They will also lay eggs inside the bark of trees, behind baseboards, and between firewood. While some species of centipede give birth to live young, house centipedes lay around 60 eggs on average. In the appropriate environment, house centipedes can live anywhere between 3 to 7 years.

Because centipedes are active at night and have a pretty scary appearance, many homeowners are afraid of them. While they do possess venomous glands, centipede bites are very rare. At its worst, a centipede bite will cause mild pain and swelling in humans. The same thing can be said for your pets. If your cat or dog gets bitten by a centipede, there is a good chance you won’t notice. Most centipedes prefer to retreat from danger rather than attack. However, if you suspect you have been bitten by a centipede, it is always best to talk to a medical professional.

House centipedes are typically attracted to homes for three reasons – moisture, food, and shelter. Centipedes cannot survive in drought-like conditions. They must have a source of water to thrive. If you are able to reduce any water or food sources near your home’s foundations or walls, you will reduce the chances of centipedes getting into your home. Leaky spigots, clogged gutters, and damp soil around your home are all very enticing to centipedes. Furthermore, if you notice a lot of insects and bugs in your yard or trash areas, there is a good chance you are at a higher risks for centipedes. Insects and small bugs like to make homes in woodpiles, damp mulch, and yard overgrowth. By eliminating these elements and keeping a well-kept yard, you can reduce the chances of centipedes entering your home.