Why you should never kill a house centipede if you find one inside your house

House centipedes act as natural pest controllers. They feed on cockroaches, spiders, ants, termites, silverfish, and other small household bugs, reducing the population of these unwanted pests without the use of chemicals or traps. In this way, they quietly perform an important service for homeowners. Despite their eerie appearance, they play a valuable role in maintaining a cleaner and healthier indoor environment. Each centipede you see has likely prevented the spread of other pests that could damage your home or contaminate your food.

If the thought of sharing space with them still makes you uncomfortable, there are humane and effective ways to manage their presence. Lowering humidity levels is one of the best strategies. Using a dehumidifier, improving ventilation, or fixing leaks will make your home less attractive to both centipedes and the smaller insects they hunt. You can also seal cracks around baseboards, windows, and drains to limit their entry points. If you find one wandering inside, simply trap it gently in a glass container and release it outside. This approach lets you keep your home pest-free while respecting the centipede’s role in nature.