Why You Should Never Kill a House Centipede Again — They’re the Hidden Heroes of Your Home

When most of us encounter a bug crawling through our bathroom or skittering along a wall, the first instinct is to reach for the nearest shoe, book, or tissue and squash it on sight. Understandably so — many insects carry harmful bacteria, can inflict painful stings, or are simply unsettling to look at.

But there’s one creepy crawler you might want to spare next time: the house centipede.

Yes, we’re talking about that fast-moving insect with a seemingly endless supply of legs (usually around 20) that darts across the floor faster than you can react. While their sudden appearance might send a shiver down your spine, house centipedes are surprisingly helpful — and not nearly as scary as they look.

Nature’s Pest Control — Right in Your Bathroom

These little arthropods might be off-putting in appearance, but what they lack in cuteness, they make up for in usefulness. Unlike many household pests, house centipedes don’t destroy your food or furniture. Instead, they feed on the real nuisances: cockroaches, termites, bedbugs, ants, silverfish, and even spiders.

Think of them as your home’s natural exterminators. They roam quietly at night, helping to keep other more harmful or annoying pests in check — no pesticides needed. And unlike flies, fleas, or cockroaches, centipedes don’t carry diseases or spread bacteria to food surfaces.

Their appetite for unwanted bugs is relentless. A single house centipede can help reduce the presence of dozens of more dangerous pests over time. So, if you spot one in your sink or under a cabinet, it might be best to let it do its job.

Why Squashing Them Could Backfire

Aside from eliminating a beneficial insect, killing certain bugs indoors can have unexpected consequences. For example, squashing a spider filled with eggs could result in hundreds of tiny spiderlings scattering across your floor. That’s not the kind of clean-up anyone wants.

Centipedes, on the other hand, are generally solitary, low-risk creatures. They’re fragile, shy, and prefer to avoid humans altogether. If you’re uncomfortable with their presence, gently capturing and relocating them outdoors is a far better option than instantly squashing them.

But Not All Insects Are Harmless…

While house centipedes deserve some appreciation, many other insects pose serious threats to human health. Here are just a few examples:

• Mosquitoes: Considered the deadliest animals on the planet, mosquitoes transmit malaria, dengue, West Nile virus, and more—responsible for nearly 1 million deaths every year.

• Killer Bees: Aggressive and numerous, these swarming insects can cause death by overwhelming their target with stings.

• Tsetse Flies: These blood-feeding flies transmit sleeping sickness, which affects hundreds of thousands across Africa.

• Fire Ants & Bullet Ants: Known for their agonizing stings, which can cause allergic reactions or serious skin damage.

• Botflies: Their larvae burrow under the skin and cause painful infections — some victims have reported feeling them move beneath the surface.

• Kissing Bugs: Responsible for spreading Chagas disease, a condition that kills around 12,000 people each year.

• Japanese Giant Hornets: Their venom can be deadly, and they’re responsible for dozens of deaths annually.

• Driver Ants: Known for their aggressive raids and powerful mandibles — they’ve even been known to take down animals much larger than themselves.

• Fleas: Tiny but troublesome, fleas cause irritation and can transmit tapeworms and bacterial infections.

The Bottom Line

It’s easy to fear what we don’t understand, and house centipedes fall squarely into that category. But learning more about their role in the home might help shift your perspective. They’re quiet guardians, hunting down pests you definitely don’t want crawling around while you sleep.

So next time you catch a glimpse of one, pause before reaching for the fly swatter. You might just owe it a quiet thank-you.