Spotting an insect in your home is always unsettling. Your first instinct might be to grab the nearest object and squash it, especially when you see something with many legs scurrying across the floor. It’s natural to react this way since some insects can be harmful, even carrying toxins that could pose serious risks. But before you stomp on that centipede, take a moment to reconsider.

While creepy-crawly creatures like centipedes often trigger a strong desire to eliminate them immediately, learning about their role in your home might change your mind. Though centipedes may appear frightening, they are actually helping to protect your home from other, more dangerous pests.

The Hidden Benefits of House Centipedes

When you see a house centipede in your bathroom or basement, your first reaction might be disgust. However, these fast-moving, multi-legged creatures are actually beneficial. Centipedes feed on a wide variety of household pests, including cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, bedbugs, and ants. Their diet makes them a natural pest control force, helping to rid your home of other unwanted invaders.

House centipedes are smaller than many of their counterparts and typically have around 20 legs, which allow them to move swiftly. Their insatiable appetite means that almost every arthropod they encounter could become their next meal. So, instead of killing that centipede, you might want to consider letting it live as a small token of appreciation for keeping your home pest-free.

To Squash or Not to Squash?

It’s understandable to feel uneasy about centipedes, especially if you have children or if their appearance simply makes you uncomfortable. But rather than crushing them, you might choose to either let them roam free or gently relocate them outside. Centipedes don’t spread germs like some other pests do, and they aren’t aggressive creatures. They may give you a scare, but they’re not likely to harm you.

Interestingly, squashing certain bugs can even backfire. For example, killing a spider might release hundreds of baby spiders into your home—not exactly the outcome you’d hope for.

Insects You Should Watch Out For

Although centipedes are harmless, other insects can pose more significant threats to your health and safety. Here are some of the most dangerous bugs you should be cautious about:

• Bullet Ants: Known for their extremely painful bites, these large ants can make you feel as though you’ve been shot. Found in the jungles of Paraguay and Nicaragua, their venom is one of the most potent in the insect world.
• Botfly Larvae: While the botfly itself is not harmful, its larvae are. Female botflies lay eggs under your skin, and as the larvae grow, they burrow deeper, causing infections that can seriously affect your skin tissue.
• Fleas: These blood-feeding pests are known for causing itching and irritation. In some cases, their bites can lead to skin infections.
• Fire Ants: Fire ants are notorious for their painful stings, which can cause white pustules that last for weeks. Their venom can trigger allergic reactions in some people.
• Kissing Bugs (Chagas Disease): These insects transmit the parasite responsible for Chagas disease, which causes up to 12,000 deaths annually.
• Giant Japanese Hornets: The largest hornet species, their stings are extremely painful and can be fatal. They are responsible for approximately 40 deaths each year.
• Tsetse Flies: These flies are infamous for transmitting sleeping sickness, which claims around 500,000 lives annually in Africa.
• Killer Bees: Known for their aggressive behavior, killer bees can attack in large groups, which can lead to fatal outcomes.
• Driver Ants: These ants are feared for their powerful mandibles, which allow them to bite with considerable force. They are capable of killing several animals during a single raid and can also bite humans.
• Mosquitoes: The deadliest insect of all, mosquitoes are responsible for up to 1 million deaths each year due to the diseases they spread, including malaria, encephalitis, and yellow fever.

Conclusion

Centipedes may look unsettling, but they are far from being the most dangerous creatures in your home. In fact, they help control the population of more harmful pests. While it’s understandable to feel the urge to squash them, it’s worth pausing to appreciate the good they do. On the other hand, insects like mosquitoes, fire ants, and tsetse flies should be treated with caution, as they can carry life-threatening diseases. So the next time you see a centipede, maybe let it be—it might just be working to protect your home.