TLDR: House centipedes come inside looking for moisture and other bugs to eat. To get rid of them, lower your home’s humidity below 50%, seal cracks and gaps, treat for the pests they feed on, and apply targeted treatments. If the problem keeps coming back, call a pro.
Few household pests cause as much alarm as the house centipede. Those long, thin legs and fast movement across your bathroom floor can make anyone jump. But getting rid of them is doable once you know what draws them in.
I’ve been a licensed pest control tech since 2015, and house centipede calls are some of the most common we get in the DC metro area. Here’s how to get them out and keep them out.
What Do House Centipedes Look Like?
House centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata) are easy to spot once you know the signs. Their body is yellowish-gray with three dark stripes on the back. Adults have 15 pairs of legs. The back pair is nearly twice as long as their body.
Penn State Extension says an adult body is about 1 to 1.5 inches long. But with legs and antennae, they can look 3 to 4 inches across. That’s why they seem bigger than they really are.
House centipedes also have large compound eyes that help them hunt. Their long back legs can look like antennae, so it’s hard to tell which end is which.
Why House Centipedes Enter Your Home
House centipedes don’t show up by accident. Your home gives them what they need to survive.
Reason 1: Moisture and Humidity
Moisture is the main reason centipedes come inside. They need humid air to breathe. Clemson University Extension says centipedes thrive in humid spots. If your basement stays at 60% humidity or higher, it’s a perfect habitat.
Basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and crawl spaces tend to hold more moisture. Leaky pipes, cold water lines dripping with condensation, and poor airflow all make things worse.
Reason 2: Food Sources
House centipedes are hunters. They eat spiders, cockroaches, silverfish, ants, carpet beetle larvae, and pillbugs. If you’re seeing centipedes often, it usually means you have other bugs in the house that are feeding them.
Reason 3: Shelter and Darkness
House centipedes hunt at night and hide during the day. Cluttered basements, stacked boxes, and storage areas give them cover. They also tuck behind baseboards, in floor drains, and inside wall voids.
How to Get Rid of House Centipedes
Killing one centipede at a time won’t fix the problem. You need to change the conditions that bring them in.
Step 1: Lower Humidity
This is the most important step. Put a dehumidifier in your basement or crawl space and keep humidity between 30-50%. At these levels, centipedes can’t survive and will move on.
Also improve airflow in problem areas. Run bathroom fans for 30 minutes after showers. Fix plumbing leaks right away, even small drips.
The University of Minnesota Extension says centipede control starts with drying out their habitat. Structural repairs may be needed, and a dehumidifier in damp areas is a must.
Step 2: Seal Entry Points
Centipedes get in through gaps you might not notice:
- Foundation cracks: seal with exterior caulk
- Gaps around pipes: where plumbing goes through walls
- Basement windows: check frames and weatherstripping
- Door thresholds: make sure they seal tight
- Utility holes: cable, gas, and electrical entry points
For small cracks, use silicone caulk. For bigger gaps, fill with foam first, then caulk over it.
Step 3: Cut Off Their Food
Centipedes eat other bugs. Treat your ant, spider, or silverfish problem and the centipedes will lose their food source.
Sticky traps in corners and along baseboards work two ways. They catch centipedes and show you what other bugs are around.
Step 4: Clean Up Outside
Make the area around your home less inviting:
- Remove leaf litter and debris from around the foundation
- Keep a bare strip of 6-12 inches against the foundation
- Swap wood mulch for gravel or stone near the house
- Slope soil away from the foundation for at least 10 feet
- Clean gutters and point downspouts away from the house
Step 5: Apply Treatments
For stubborn problems, residual products can help. Iowa State University Extension says to treat behind baseboards and in cracks and crevices. A perimeter treatment in late summer or early fall helps block entry.
These five steps cover most cases. But sometimes the root cause is harder to spot.
One homeowner kept finding bugs in her basement. After a check, we found the soil around her foundation was staying wet. The same rule applies to centipedes: fixing outdoor moisture is just as key as indoor humidity control.
If you’ve tried these steps and centipedes keep showing up, it may be time for a professional assessment.
Are House Centipedes Dangerous?
House centipedes look scary but pose very little risk to people. They do have venom for catching prey, but poison control experts say their bite is mostly harmless to humans.
Bites are rare since centipedes would rather run than fight. They can move up to 0.4 meters per second. If a bite does happen, you might see:
- Mild pain like a bee sting
- Some redness and swelling
- Symptoms that go away within 48 hours
Severe reactions are very rare. If you get a fever, signs of infection, or trouble breathing, see a doctor.
Professional House Centipede Control
If you’ve fixed moisture issues, sealed gaps, and still see centipedes, it may be time to call a pro.
At Better Termite & Pest Control, our team uses non-repellent products that centipedes walk through without knowing. This works better than repellent sprays that just push them to other spots.
Our treatment includes:
- Full inspection to find entry points and moisture issues
- Crack and crevice treatments in hiding spots
- Perimeter treatment around your foundation
- Moisture and exclusion tips to keep them from coming back
With over 57 years in the DC metro area and 1,000+ five-star reviews, we’ve helped homeowners across Northern Virginia, Maryland, and DC solve centipede problems for good.
Keeping Centipedes Out Long-Term
Once the problem is under control, a little upkeep goes a long way.
Monthly Tasks
- Check humidity in the basement and crawl space
- Look for new plumbing leaks
- Clear clutter from storage areas
- Check and swap out sticky traps
Seasonal Tasks
- Reseal foundation cracks in spring and fall
- Clean gutters and check drainage
- Trim plants away from the foundation
- Apply perimeter treatments before peak season
Centipedes are most active in spring and fall when outdoor conditions change. Planning treatments during these times gives you the best results.
Take Action Now
Getting rid of centipedes comes down to cutting off moisture, food, and shelter. Lower humidity, seal gaps, treat other pest issues, and use targeted products when needed.
If you’re dealing with centipedes in your Alexandria, Reston, Potomac, or DC metro area home, call us at 703-683-2000 or email info@bettertermite.com. We’ll set up an inspection and build a plan for your home.
