House Centipedes or Centipedes? What's the Difference?
What's the Difference Between House Centipedes and Centipedes?
House centipedes and centipedes are both myriapods, but the differences are clear.
Leg Count and Length
- House centipedes: legs are very long and conspicuous on both sides of the body — 15 pairs of long legs
- Centipedes: legs are shorter, one pair per segment (number of walking legs varies by species, usually 21-23 pairs), less conspicuous than house centipede legs
Body Shape
- House centipedes: body is slender and relatively soft, yellowish-brown; legs are very long (longer than body width), and they scurry with a panicked-looking gait
- Centipedes: body is flatter and tougher, dark brown or reddish-brown; legs are short (shorter than body width), and they move with a steady, deliberate gait
- House centipedes have 1 pair of long legs per body segment; centipedes have 1 pair of short legs per segment
Habits and Range
- House centipedes: often found on damp indoor walls and floors; run fast; nocturnal; common in bathrooms and kitchens
- Centipedes: prefer hiding under stones and wood outdoors; occasionally appear in yards or basements; rarely enter indoor living spaces
Level of Danger
- House centipedes: barely bite, venom is mild, pose almost no threat to people
- Centipedes: will bite defensively; venom is stronger; a bite is noticeably painful and needs proper care