Fauna
Invertebrate

House Centipede

Scutigera coleoptrata

Also known as Spider Centipede, Thousand-Legger

House centipedes navigate walls and floors with astonishing agility, utilizing 15 pairs of long, thread-like legs that keep their bodies elevated above surfaces. These nocturnal arthropods act as relentless free-roaming pest control in human dwellings, actively stalking silverfish, carpet beetle larvae, and young cockroaches. Their compound-like eyes and sensitive antennae allow them to detect and overtake nimble prey in total darkness.

NocturnalFastPredatory
House Centipede reference1 / 7
(c) Kyle Elshoff, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kyle Elshoff · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySilverfish, Cockroaches, Spiders
Predators
  • Domestic Cats
  • Spiders
  • Birds
ThreatsPesticides, indoor eradication
HabitatsHuman dwellings, basements, bathrooms, damp crawlspaces, leaf litter
Life span3–7 years
Classification
  1. OrderScutigeromorpha
  2. FamilyScutigeridae
  3. GenusScutigera
  4. SpeciesScutigera coleoptrata
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Capable of a mild defensive sting that rarely pierces human skin; handle with care or observe from a distance.
Responsible observation
  • Indoor Pest Control: Leave them alone in basements or bathrooms to naturally reduce insect populations.
  • Gentle Relocation: Trap them with a cup and cardboard slide if you prefer to move them outside.
  • Humidity Management: Reduce indoor moisture levels with dehumidifiers to control their numbers.
Related species
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