House centipede vs Giant house spider
These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a house centipede from a giant house spider, and whether either one bites or stings.
House centipede
Scutigera coleoptrata
Giant house spider
Eratigena atrica
≠The key differences
Spiders have 8 legs and two body parts; house centipedes have 15 pairs of long legs, long antennae and a long, flattened segmented body.
⚖︎Side by side
| House centipede | Giant house spider | |
|---|---|---|
| To humans | Mild bite | Mild bite |
| Size | Body 25-40 mm; overall span with legs can appear 75-100 mm | 6-18 mm body length; legspan up to 45-75 mm |
| Colours | Pale yellow, Grey, Brown | Brown, Tan, Dark brown |
| Family | Scutigeridae | Agelenidae |
| Habitat | Human dwellings (basements, bathrooms, closets), under stones and logs, leaf litter and other damp microhabitats | Human structures (houses, sheds, cellars), under eaves, in cracks and corners, occasionally in vegetation and stone walls |
| Range | Originally Mediterranean; now cosmopolitan in warm-temperate and tropical regions, common in buildings worldwide | Native to Europe; similar species in the Eratigena atrica species complex have been introduced and established in parts of North America |
| Active | Nocturnal; active year-round indoors, more visible in warm months or after rainfall | Most active late summer to autumn (mating season); nocturnal and more 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 giant house spider
- Large funnel-web spider with long, spindly legs and a visible funnel retreat in the web
- Mottled brown abdomen with indistinct patterned markings and banded or uniformly brown long legs
- Fast, smooth running when disturbed; adult legspan noticeably larger than common house spiders
- Definitive species ID requires examination of genitalia (pedipalps in males, epigyne in females) by a specialist
?Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a house centipede and a giant house spider?
Spiders have 8 legs and two body parts; house centipedes have 15 pairs of long legs, long antennae and a long, flattened segmented body.
Is a house centipede or a giant house spider more dangerous?
House centipede: Mild bite. Giant house spider: Mild bite. House centipedes are venomous to their small prey but rarely bite people. Not dangerous to humans.
Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.