What Do House Centipedes Eat?

Quick Take

• The bug most homeowners rush to exterminate might be the one keeping their home's pest problem in check. See their pest control role →
• House centipedes can take down prey far larger than themselves, and the method they use to do it is unlike anything you'd expect from a household bug. Discover the lassoing technique →
• Despite having eyes, house centipedes don't rely on them to hunt. See how they sense prey →
• House centipedes have a tailored strategy for hunting dangerous prey like wasps. Explore their wasp strategy →

One of over 3,000 centipede species, the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is a fast-moving, predatory arthropod that originated in the Mediterranean region and has become a widespread, beneficial inhabitant of human homes globally, except in Antarctica. House centipedes have up to 15 pairs of long, delicate, legs, which allow them to move quickly. The house centipede’s diet is a major reason they live in houses, as they are carnivores that hunt household pests. Continue reading to discover everything you need to know about what house centipedes eat.

What do House Centipedes Eat?

House centipedes are insectivores that primarily eat insects like cockroaches, flies, moths, and crickets.

Although humans may not think of centipedes as hunters, that description fits these quick and insectivorous arthropods perfectly. An insectivore is simply a carnivorous plant or animal that eats insects as its primary food source. All centipedes are arthropods, and house centipedes almost exclusively eat other arthropods.

House centipedes will eat nearly any insect they are large enough to kill. Although house centipedes are sometimes considered pests themselves, they distinguish themselves from other household pests by preying on them, serving as a form of natural pest control.

Many people dislike the sight of house centipedes and often hire professionals to remove them. However, these persistent arthropods may provide some benefit to a home or yard through their diet.

House centipedes eat the following foods:

• cockroaches
• flies
• moths
• crickets
• earwigs
• spiders
• silverfish
• wasps
• hornets
• ants
• earthworms
• slugs
• snails

How do House Centipedes Hunt?

Almost all centipedes are venomous, including the house centipede. On average, house centipedes can move at speeds of up to 1.3 feet per second. Their speed, combined with their venom, allows house centipedes to prey on animals that are significantly larger than they are.

House centipedes hide during the day and come out at night to hunt. Although they have eyes, they primarily use their antennae for hunting. Their antennae can detect smells and sensations, which helps them more than their eyes do in dark spaces.

When they spot potential prey, they quickly move in and grab it with their legs. Once they have a firm hold on their prey, they strike with their modified front legs, known as forcipules (essentially fangs), and inject their venom.

Centipedes often use a technique known as lassoing to trap their prey within their legs, much like a rope. This lassoing effect can be seen more easily in larger species, particularly when they are hunting larger prey like mice and lizards.

House centipedes have developed specialized hunting strategies for various types of prey. When hunting wasps, for example, a centipede will quickly get close enough to inject its venom and then back away. Once it is clear that the wasp has died, the centipede will retrieve and eat its prey.

Where do House Centipedes Live?

House centipedes originated in the Mediterranean region and have since spread globally, now being found on every continent except Antarctica.

Outdoors, centipedes prefer cool, damp places. They rely on moist areas to stay hydrated and can be found under rocks, piles of wood, and leaves.

Indoors, house centipedes also prefer dark, moist environments such as bathrooms, basements, and garages.

House centipedes often breed in baseboards or other dark places in homes and can lay between 35 and 150 eggs at a time, though most commonly between 35 and 100. Although it can be startling to encounter them, house centipedes are nocturnal and are not usually seen unless they become trapped in a bathtub or sink.