House centipede vs Brown centipede
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a house centipede from a brown centipede, and whether either one bites or stings.
House centipede
Scutigera coleoptrata
Brown centipede
Lithobius forficatus
≠The key differences
Lithobius are shorter, stouter with fewer visible legs (7-15 pairs), lack the very long fringe-like legs and are slower; they are more strictly ground-dwelling.
House centipedes have extremely long, banded legs (also 15 pairs in adults), a striped pattern and very long antennae; L. forficatus is shorter, stouter and has short legs.
⚖︎Side by side
| House centipede | Brown centipede | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Mild bite | Mild bite |
| Size | Body 25-40 mm; overall span with legs can appear 75-100 mm | 15-30 mm body length |
| Colours | Pale yellow, Grey, Brown | Brown, Reddish brown, Beige (underside) |
| Family | Scutigeridae | Lithobiidae |
| Habitat | Human dwellings (basements, bathrooms, closets), under stones and logs, leaf litter and other damp microhabitats | Leaf litter, soil, under stones and logs, compost heaps, garden mulch; in houses prefers damp basements, cellars, sheds |
| Range | Originally Mediterranean; now cosmopolitan in warm-temperate and tropical regions, common in buildings worldwide | Native to Europe and temperate regions; introduced to parts of North America and other temperate areas |
| Active | Nocturnal; active year-round indoors, more visible in warm months or after rainfall | Primarily spring to autumn; nocturnal (active at night) |
| Pest? | Yes | No |
🔍How to spot a house centipede
- Very long, many-segmented legs (15 pairs) giving a fringed appearance and fast, wave-like movement
- Body length 25-40 mm with long antennae and banded pale and darker stripes
- Very flattened, elongated body with last pair of legs elongated into a tail-like appendage
- Seen running quickly on walls, ceilings or floors at night rather than slow-moving like soil-dwelling centipedes
🔍How to spot a brown centipede
- Short, flattened body 15-30 mm long with 15 pairs of legs in adults (30 legs total).
- Uniform brown to reddish-brown colour with a darker head and paler underside.
- Distinct pincer-like forcipules (front appendages) visible under the head used to grasp prey.
- Fast, jerky movement; adults are much smaller and less elongate than tropical Scolopendra species.
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a house centipede and a brown centipede?
Lithobius are shorter, stouter with fewer visible legs (7-15 pairs), lack the very long fringe-like legs and are slower; they are more strictly ground-dwelling. House centipedes have extremely long, banded legs (also 15 pairs in adults), a striped pattern and very long antennae; L. forficatus is shorter, stouter and has short legs.
Is a house centipede or a brown centipede more dangerous?
House centipede: Mild bite. Brown centipede: Mild bite. House centipedes are venomous to their small prey but rarely bite people. Lithobius forficatus can bite if handled or pressed against skin.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.