With their many legs and lightning-fast movements, centipedes are one of the most unnerving pests you can spot indoors. While they’re technically beneficial predators (eating other bugs), their presence often signals a bigger pest or moisture issue — and nobody wants them sprinting across the bathroom floor at night.

Active Seasons

Centipedes are active year-round indoors, especially in warm, moist environments. Outdoor activity peaks from spring through fall, but they commonly move inside during rainy or colder months.

Lifespan

Most house centipedes live 3 to 6 years, which is surprisingly long for a bug that small. They spend most of their life hiding in dark, damp spaces.

Reproduction Rate

A female centipede lays dozens of eggs at a time, usually in soil, mulch, or damp indoor crevices. A single centipede can quickly turn into a larger infestation if the environment allows.

How to Identify

• Appearance: Long, flat body with 15 pairs of legs, giving a “feathered” look. Typically yellowish-gray with dark stripes.

• Size: Most house centipedes are about 1 to 1.5 inches long, but can look much larger with legs extended.

• Behavior: Nocturnal, fast-moving, and prefers cool, damp, undisturbed areas — bathrooms, basements, crawlspaces, and under sinks.

• You might also find shed legs or dead centipedes in corners or near floor drains.

Health Concerns

• Bites are rare, but large centipedes can bite if handled. Bites may cause mild swelling or discomfort, similar to a bee sting.

• More importantly, centipedes often signal the presence of other pests they’re feeding on, like spiders, silverfish, or roaches.

Property Concerns

• Centipedes don’t cause direct damage to your home, but their presence is often tied to excess moisture or hidden pest infestations.

• Over time, unchecked moisture problems can lead to wood rot, mold, or structural decay.

Why You Need Perimeter Pest

Seeing a centipede means two things:

1. You likely have high humidity or moisture problems in hidden areas
2. You probably have other pests they’re feeding on.

At Perimeter Pest, we treat more than just the symptom — we inspect, identify the root causes, and offer a comprehensive solution that includes moisture reduction strategies, pest control, and entry point sealing.

Don’t let fast legs and hidden pests catch you off guard — call Perimeter Pest for safe, professional centipede control in Middle Tennessee.