Centipedes are elongated bugs with many pairs of legs that can look quite creepy when spotted in your home or garden. With their long bodies and numerous legs, it’s easy to mistake other insects for centipedes. While centipedes are harmless, it’s still good to know what’s crawling around your house.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common bugs that are often mistaken for centipedes.
Millipedes
Millipedes are one of the bugs most frequently confused with centipedes due to their elongated shape and many legs. However, millipedes have two pairs of legs per body segment, while centipedes have just one This means millipedes have a lot more legs than centipedes
Millipedes also move quite slowly compared to the speedy centipedes. They are completely harmless and feed on decaying plant matter rather than hunting for prey like centipedes.
Earwigs
Earwigs have a flattened body and forcep-like cerci at the rear, which can resemble the many legs of a centipede at first glance. They are much smaller than most centipedes though, growing to around 1 inch long at most.
These nocturnal insects hide out in damp areas during the day. While they can damage plants earwigs don’t pose any harm to people.
Silverfish
The silverfish is a small, wingless insect with a tapered, fish-like shape that accounts for its name. They have long antennae and three tail-like appendages at the rear. Their silver color and quick movements can cause them to be mistaken for small centipedes.
Silverfish feed on starchy foods like flour, paper, or sugar Though they can be a nuisance, they are harmless to humans.
Firebrats
Closely related to silverfish, firebrats prefer warmer environments near heat sources. They have an elongated body and can reach up to 1.5 inches long. Their dark coloration resembles some centipedes.
Firebrats feed on high starch foods and can contaminate stored food supplies. Their nibbling can also damage paper products, fabrics, and artworks.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars come in a wide array of colors and patterns, many of which provide camouflage against plants and trees. Their elongated body and numerous prolegs running along the length can cause them to resemble centipedes. However, caterpillars only have 6 true legs near their head rather than the 15+ pairs of a centipede.
Most caterpillars feed solely on plants and pose no harm to people. Some caterpillar species are covered in irritating hairs or spines as a defense.
Beetle Larvae
Many beetles go through a larval form that looks nothing like their adult stage. Beetle larvae have elongate, worm-like bodies with six legs near their head. Many are dark in color like centipedes.
Types of beetle larvae that may be mistaken for centipedes include ground beetles, carrion beetles, rove beetles, fungus beetles, and leaf beetles. Identifying features like color patterns, hairiness, and leg placement can help distinguish them from centipedes.
Pseudocentipedes
These small soil dwellers have centipede-like bodies but only 2 pairs of legs. They lack pigmentation and are completely blind. Growing to about 0.4 inches long, pseudocentipedes are sometimes called soil centipedes.
They live deep in soil and leaf litter and pose no threat to plants or people. Pseudocentipedes move slowly, unlike the speedy true centipedes.
Symphylans
Also known as garden centipedes, symphylans are tiny, white soil dwellers with 12 pairs of legs. They are only 0.08-0.2 inches long but their numerous legs and rapid movements can cause them to resemble tiny centipedes.
These tiny bugs feed on plant roots and fungi in the soil. Damage is usually minimal but their chewing can stunt plant growth in large infestations.
Pauropods
Another small soil dweller, pauropods have 11-13 pairs of legs. They are under 0.08 inches long and translucent white in color. Pauropods feed on fungi and decaying plant material in the soil.
Their small size means they go unnoticed by most people. Like other soil bugs, pauropods can generally be considered helpful decomposers rather than pests.
Centipede Lookalikes in Water
Aquatic centipede-like creatures include mosquito larvae, dragonfly nymphs, and scuds. Mosquito larvae hang suspended in water and have a distinct swimming motion. Dragonfly nymphs have just 6 legs compared to a centipede’s many. Scuds are actually small crustaceans rather than insects.
So next time an odd bug crawls across your floor, take a closer look at the legs and body shape before shrieking “centipede!” While centipedes look creepy, they do help control pest populations and are harmless. And many centipede lookalikes are beneficial insects that shouldn’t be eliminated from your home or garden habitat. A little bug identification can go a long way!
What is a Centipede?
Centipedes are sometimes called house centipedes or “hundred-leggers” because of their many pairs of legs. They are widely distributed throughout most of United States and the world. Centipedes are rarely seen by humans due to their nocturnal activity and the speed in which they move. Most centipedes live for more than a year and some up to six years. Read on to learn more centipede facts.
What do centipedes look like?
House centipedes are easy to spot by their elongated, worm-like body with their many pairs of legs. They can actually have anywhere from 15-177 pairs of legs with one pair per segment, depending on the species. Interestingly, centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs. In general, the body of a centipede is usually yellowish to dark brown in color, sometimes with darker stripes or markings. The heads of centipedes have a pair of long and sensitive antennae covered with dense hairs. They have small mouths and have large, claw-like structures that contain a venom gland. In fact, some centipedes have compound eyes containing as many as 200 optical units, while others have a cluster of simple eyes on each side of the hear or no eyes.
There are two representative species. The usual pest species is the common house centipede Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus). This centipede is about 1-1 1/2” (25-38 mm) long. Its body is grayish yellow with three longitudinal dark stripes. The house centipede has 15 pairs of long legs. The antennae and last pair of legs are longer than its body. The largest centipedes are in the genus Scolopendra and may grow to as much as 6” (15 cm) long. Their legs and antennae are shorter than those of the house centipede. Common Centipede Habits
Centipedes typically overwinter outdoors in protected situations and lay their eggs during the summer, usually in or on the soil. Females of Scutigera have been known to produced 35 eggs over a period of days.
Centipedes are found in areas of high moisture, such as loose bark, in rotting logs, under stones, in trash or piles of leaves and grass. When they invade homes, centipedes are most commonly found in damp basements, crawlspaces, bathrooms or potted plants.
All centipedes have very poor eyesight and track their prey through the use of touch and smell. Centipedes are primarily carnivorous and obtain most of their moisture needs from their prey Most house centipedes are nocturnal, and prey primarily on flies, spiders and sometimes plant tissue, causing injury. Centipedes are not likely to consume wood. In actuality, arthropods commonly known as wood eating centipedes are millipedes. While millipedes do closely resemble centipedes, millipedes are herbivores and detritivores, surviving on dead and decaying plant material, including wood or cellulose material. Common Centipede Habitats
Centipedes are found throughout the United States and the world. They are typically found in areas of high moisture, such as in rotting logs, under stones, in trash or piles of leaves/grass. When they invade homes, centipedes are most commonly found in damp basements, crawlspaces, bathrooms, or potted plants. Do Centipedes Pose a Threat?
Centipedes are generally considered nuisance pests, as they do not pose significant health or property threats. However, all house centipedes have poison jaws with which they inject venom into their prey. Do Centipedes Bite?
If handled roughly, some larger species can inflict a painful bite that can break human skin and cause pain and swelling, similar to a bee sting. The large Scolopendra can inflict a very painful bite and should be handled with great care. Signs of an Infestation
Centipedes typically leave no direct signs of an infestation other than the sighting of the pest itself. How to Get Rid of House Centipedes
The most effective way to prevent a centipede infestation is to reduce areas of moisture in and around your home. Remove piles of leaves and grass clippings, logs, stones and rocks on your property. Store firewood off the ground. Provide adequate ventilation in basements, attics and crawl spaces. Seal holes, cracks and gaps that enable outdoor centipedes to get inside a home.
If a centipede is found indoors, you can get rid of it with a vacuum. However, you should contact a licensed pest professional if you suspect an infestation. You can find one near you with the helpful zip code search below.
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FAQ
What bug is mistaken for a centipede?
Three common pests often confused with centipedes are: Millipedes. Silverfish. Earwigs.
Are house centipedes harmful?
Summary. House centipedes are common inhabitants of homes and other buildings. While they are fast and have long legs, which may frighten some people, they are harmless.
What is this centipede-looking thing in my house?
The insect in question is Scutigera coleoptrata, more commonly known as the house centipede. The first thing you need to do is relax. The only way the house centipede is dangerous is if you happen to be another insect such as a bed bug, cockroach, spider, termite, silverfish or other pest.
What attracts millipedes in your house?
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Moisture:Millipedes thrive in damp environments and will seek out areas with high humidity, such as basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.
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Food Sources:Millipedes are decomposers, feeding on decaying plant matter, dead insects, and other organic debris.
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Shelter:They prefer dark, cool, and damp places, making basements, crawl spaces, and cluttered areas attractive.
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Entry Points:Millipedes can enter homes through cracks in the foundation, gaps around windows and doors, or through basement doors, windows, and vents.
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Seasonal Migration:During hot, dry weather, millipedes may migrate indoors in search of cooler, more humid environments.
What is a worm that looks like a centipede?
A worm that looks like a centipede is most likely a millipede. Millipedes are not actually worms, but they are often mistaken for them because of their long, segmented bodies. Millipedes typically have two pairs of legs per body segment, while worms have only one pair. This is the main way to tell the difference between a millipede and a worm.
What do centipedes look like?
What to look for: Centipedes are sometimes called “hundred-leggers” because of their many pairs of legs. They are yellowish to dark brown with darker stripes. Where you’re likely to spot them: Centipedes are typically found in areas of high moisture. Indoors, this means they hang out in damp basements, crawlspaces, bathrooms, or potted plants.
What crawly bug looks like a centipede?
Another crawly bug that looks like a centipede is the firebrat. Technically known as Thermobia domestica, this small hexapod has a fish-shaped body. Firebrats are wingless and are closely related to silverfish. They are distributed throughout most parts of the world and prefer places with higher temperatures and moist conditions for survival.
Is a centipede an insect?
No, a centipede is not an insect. It is a myriapod, which is a distant cousin to insects. Centipedes have elongated bodies with many legs and hunt other insects using a venomous sting.
What are some of the insects that centipedes feed on?
These centipedes feed on bed bugs, termites, spiders, cockroaches, ants, and silverfish, to name a few. Adults grow to around 35mm in body length with fifteen pairs of legs and a rigid body. They have long antennae of around 100mm in length. Their yellow to gray body has dark stripes down the length.
Do caterpillars look like centipedes?
Caterpillars can move quickly by undulating their bodies like a centipede, making them look deceptively centipede-like. However, despite their similar-looking bodies, they are distinct in morphology, diet, and development. For example, caterpillars have plump, round bodies. They generally have small antennae, and some species also sport horns.