Editorial Note: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. It is written using our own original words, structure, explanations, commentary, insights, opinions, and understanding. Readers are encouraged to exercise discretion and conduct their own due diligence when evaluating any information presented on this site.
A lot of people are scared of bugs, spiders, and anything that moves inside their house with a lot of little legs. However, there is one of them that might actually be worth not squashing with your shoes or throwing away outside. That is the house centipede, which looks just as scary as spiders, but is not harmful to humans.
What Is a House Centipede?
House centipedes are small, have 15 pairs of long legs, and are fast-moving bugs that look just as scary as the other ones. However, they do not bite humans often, and even if they do, they are usually harmless.
They are a species that originated from the Mediterranean region but has spread widely all over the world, including our homes. They usually live in damp and very dark places, like attics, basements, and bathrooms.
You won’t often see them during the day because they mostly come out and are active at night to hunt for food. This is actually one of the most important reasons why they can be advantageous to have at our homes.
Read more: Alta Pest Control
Daily Recommended Resources
Affiliate Disclosure: This section contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you click one, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Why Are They Helpful?
The main reason why they are helpful to have at home is that, first, as said, they are not harmful, and mainly because house centipedes eat other bugs that we don’t want in our homes, some of which can be harmful to us or carry diseases.
At night, they hunt these other bugs, such as insects, cockroaches, and even spiders, which most people fear deeply. They help a lot in keeping the number of these pests in our homes without using chemicals.
So, whenever you see a house centipede, think of them as your personal pest control, and they are actually helping you by getting rid of other bugs we don’t want in our homes. However, a caveat to this is their number. One or two is probably fine, but keep in mind that the amount of predators in an area being able to survive means there is also a lot of prey that they can eat.
Read more: The Weather Network
Should You Be Concerned?
Even though house centipedes could be helpful to get rid of other bugs, if their number steadily increases and actually thrives at your house, then it might mean a bigger problem. Because these creatures go to where their food source can be found, which means their presence could indicate that there are pests or bugs that are starting to increase in number at your home.
So, if you see a lot of house centipedes, it could be a good idea to check the whole house to find out where they are getting their food. That place in your home is most likely filled with other bugs that they usually eat.
Author's Final Thoughts
We will admit that house centipedes look very scary; however, they can be a good and helpful roommate to us. They do not normally carry diseases, and they eat insects that might actually carry one. They get rid of spiders, which most of you will probably fear more, and their bite doesn’t harm humans, but they rarely do anyway. So next time you see one, as long as it is just one or a few, remember it’s on your side.
Read more: New Study Says Taking Short Daytime Naps Could Slow Brain Aging by Up to 6.5 Years
Daily Recommended Resources
Affiliate Disclosure: This section contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you click one, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.