Centipedes scurrying across your basement floor or bathroom wall can trigger immediate concern. If you live in New Jersey, understanding which centipede species share your home is the first step toward coexisting peacefully—or eliminating the problem entirely.
New Jersey’s diverse landscape creates ideal conditions for multiple centipede species, from the swift house centipede darting along your kitchen counter to less common species hiding in damp soil beneath your deck. You’re not facing a mystery pest; you’re dealing with predictable creatures with specific behaviors and vulnerabilities.
This guide walks you through identifying all six centipede species found throughout New Jersey, understanding what attracts them to your home, and implementing species-specific handling strategies that actually work.
1. House Centipede
The house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is the species you’ll encounter most frequently in New Jersey homes, and it’s the most visually distinctive.
With 15 pairs of extremely long, delicate legs and a flattened body reaching 1-1.5 inches in length, house centipedes move with startling speed across walls and floors.
Their yellowish-brown bodies often display darker bands, and those impossibly long legs trail behind like fine threads as they hunt.
- Why you’ll find them in your home: House centipedes thrive in moisture-rich environments and actively hunt arthropod prey—spiders, silverfish, cockroach nymphs, and other household insects. They’re attracted to the hunting opportunities your home provides. A house centipede in your basement isn’t there by accident; it’s following the food supply.
- How to identify them: Count the legs (15 pairs), observe the distinctive flattened body, and note their incredible speed. No other New Jersey centipede matches their leg-to-body ratio or velocity.
- Handling strategy: Despite their alarming appearance, house centipedes are harmless to humans and actually beneficial. They’re predators that reduce pest populations. If you discover one, capture it gently using a container and release it outside, or simply leave it alone. Most importantly, reduce their food source by controlling cockroaches, silverfish, and other prey insects in your home. Without prey, they’ll naturally move elsewhere.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 1-1.5 inches |
| Leg Pairs | 15 |
| Body Type | Flattened, delicate |
| Color | Yellowish-brown with dark bands |
| Speed | Extremely fast |
| Threat Level | None to humans |
2. Eastern Red-Headed Centipede
The eastern red-headed centipede (Scolopocryptops sexspinosus) is a more robust, intimidating species that appears throughout New Jersey, particularly in wooded areas and gardens. These centipedes reach 4-6 inches in length with a reddish or orange head that gives the species its common name.
Their bodies range from yellowish to brownish, creating a stark contrast with that distinctive red head. Unlike the delicate house centipede, the eastern red-headed variety is solidly built and considerably more aggressive.
- Habitat and behavior: Eastern red-headed centipedes prefer soil and mulch but venture indoors when moisture levels drop or when seeking shelter. You’re more likely to encounter them during basement flooding, heavy rain, or when you’re digging in garden soil. They’re nocturnal hunters with venomous fangs that can inflict a painful bite.
- How to identify them: The red or orange head is your primary identifier—no confusion possible. Their substantial size (much larger than house centipedes) and solid brown body distinguish them immediately. Watch for their more deliberate, less frenzied movement compared to house centipedes.
- Handling strategy: Respect their space. If you find one indoors, use a broom to gently guide it toward an open door or window. Never attempt to handle them with bare hands. Outdoors, relocate them at least 50 feet from your home using a shovel or stick. Indoors, seal gaps around basement windows and doors, improve drainage around your foundation, and reduce mulch contact with your home’s exterior. These actions eliminate the moisture conditions that attract them.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 4-6 inches |
| Leg Pairs | 21-23 |
| Body Type | Robust, solid |
| Color | Red/orange head, brownish body |
| Venom | Yes, painful bite possible |
| Threat Level | Low; bite rare if left alone |
3. Eastern Bark Centipede
The eastern bark centipede (Hemiscolopendra marginata) is a smaller species rarely encountered indoors but common in New Jersey’s natural environments.
Reaching only 1-2 inches in length, these centipedes have flattened bodies with a distinctive yellowish stripe running along each side.
Their coloration ranges from reddish-brown to dark brown, and they’re significantly slower than house centipedes.
- Where you’ll find them: Eastern bark centipedes live under loose bark on dead trees, in leaf litter, and under logs and stones. They prefer forested areas and rarely venture into homes. When they do appear indoors, it’s typically in basement corners or crawl spaces adjacent to wooded properties.
- How to identify them: The size (smaller than both previous species), the characteristic yellow side stripes, and the preference for ground-level habitats make identification straightforward. Observe their slow, deliberate movement—distinctly different from the frantic house centipede.
- Handling strategy: These centipedes pose no threat and require minimal action. If you discover one indoors, simply relocate it outside. Prevent entry by sealing foundation cracks and gaps where they might squeeze through. Keep mulch and leaf litter away from your foundation perimeter.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 1-2 inches |
| Leg Pairs | 15 |
| Body Type | Flattened |
| Color | Brown with yellow side stripes |
| Venom | No |
| Threat Level | None |
4. Stone Centipedes
Stone centipedes (Lithobius species) are common throughout New Jersey, thriving in damp conditions and rocky environments.
Several species exist within this genus, but they share consistent characteristics: compact bodies reaching 0.75-1.25 inches, yellowish-brown to dark brown coloration, and 15 pairs of relatively short legs.
Stone centipedes have a more robust appearance than house centipedes but lack the vivid coloring of eastern red-headed varieties.
- Habitat preferences: These centipedes favor cool, damp environments—exactly what you find under stones, mulch, compost piles, and decaying wood. They’re active predators hunting small arthropods, and they reproduce prolifically in the right conditions. Stone centipedes can survive indoors in basements but don’t thrive without high humidity.
- How to identify them: The compact size, moderate leg length, and brownish coloration serve as baseline identifiers. However, distinguishing between specific Lithobius species requires expertise. For practical purposes, if you find a small, sturdy centipede with brown coloring and moderate legs, you’ve likely found a stone centipede.
- Handling strategy: Similar to house centipedes, stone centipedes are beneficial predators that control other pest populations. Rather than removing them, address the conditions attracting them. Stone centipedes require high humidity to survive indoors—reduce moisture through proper drainage, fix leaking pipes, and increase ventilation in damp areas. Eliminate their prey by controlling small arthropods. Most stone centipedes found indoors will naturally migrate elsewhere when humidity drops.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 0.75-1.25 inches |
| Leg Pairs | 15 |
| Body Type | Compact, sturdy |
| Color | Yellowish-brown to dark brown |
| Venom | No |
| Threat Level | None |
5. Soil Centipedes
Soil centipedes (Geophilus species) are small, worm-like creatures rarely seen above ground and almost never found inside homes.
These centipedes reach only 0.5-1 inch in length and have extremely numerous legs—up to 29 pairs—giving them a segmented, almost grub-like appearance.
Their pale yellowish coloration and subterranean habits make them virtually invisible to most homeowners.
- Ecological role: Soil centipedes spend their entire lives in soil and leaf litter, breaking down organic matter and controlling small soil-dwelling arthropods. They’re essential to healthy soil ecosystems but entirely harmless to humans and properties. You might discover one while digging in your garden or turning compost, but indoors is exceptionally rare.
- How to identify them: The extreme number of legs (noticeably more than other species), small size, pale coloring, and worm-like body profile confirm identification. If you’re looking at something that resembles a pale worm with numerous tiny legs, that’s a soil centipede.
- Handling strategy: No action necessary. If you encounter one while gardening, simply leave it undisturbed. Soil centipedes provide genuine value to your garden ecosystem. Indoors, their presence would indicate extreme moisture issues requiring immediate attention—but this scenario is exceptionally unlikely. If somehow one appears indoors, return it to outdoor soil or a compost pile.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 0.5-1 inch |
| Leg Pairs | Up to 29 |
| Body Type | Worm-like, segmented |
| Color | Pale yellowish |
| Venom | No |
| Threat Level | None |
6. Yellow-Marked Centipede
The yellow-marked centipede (Hemicentipede species) is an uncommon New Jersey species most likely encountered in the southern portions of the state or in heated indoor spaces that simulate warmer climates.
These centipedes reach 2-3 inches in length with distinctive yellow or tan markings along their body segments, contrasting sharply with their darker brown base coloration. The yellow markings serve as the most reliable identification feature.
- Where they hide: Yellow-marked centipedes prefer warmer, drier conditions than most other New Jersey species. They gravitate toward heated basements, crawl spaces with heating pipes, or homes in warmer microclimates. They’re occasional residents rather than established populations in most New Jersey locations.
- How to identify them: The distinctive yellow or tan segment markings are unmistakable. Size (2-3 inches) places them between house centipedes and eastern red-headed varieties. Their preference for warmer areas provides context clues—if you find an unusual centipede near a heating source or in a particularly warm basement corner, yellow-marked centipedes are a possibility.
- Handling strategy: Treat them similarly to stone centipedes. Capture gently using a container and release outside, or allow them to leave naturally. Reduce indoor warmth and humidity in problem areas by sealing air leaks near heating elements and improving ventilation. Check the perimeter of your home for gaps and cracks, particularly near basement utility areas where warm air escapes.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 2-3 inches |
| Leg Pairs | 15-21 |
| Body Type | Slender, marked |
| Color | Dark brown with yellow markings |
| Venom | No |
| Threat Level | None |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming all centipedes are dangerous: Most New Jersey centipedes are either completely harmless or pose minimal threat to humans. House centipedes, stone centipedes, soil centipedes, and yellow-marked centipedes cannot harm you. Only the eastern red-headed centipede has venom, and bites occur only when the centipede is directly threatened or mishandled.
- Killing beneficial species indoors: House centipedes and stone centipedes actively reduce cockroach, silverfish, and other pest populations. Eliminating them removes your home’s built-in pest control system. Tolerance is more practical than eradication.
- Ignoring moisture problems: Centipedes appear in homes because conditions suit them—primarily moisture and prey availability. Killing individual centipedes without addressing moisture will result in continuous replacements. Fix the environment, not just the symptoms.
Practical Prevention for Your New Jersey Home
- Moisture control is fundamental. Centipedes require damp conditions. Use a dehumidifier in basements, fix leaking pipes immediately, ensure gutters direct water away from your foundation, and improve grading around your home’s perimeter.
- Seal entry points strategically. Caulk gaps around basement windows, seal cracks in foundation walls, and use weatherstripping on doors. Focus on areas where moisture accumulates or where warm air escapes.
- Reduce prey populations. Eliminate cockroaches, silverfish, and other small arthropods through proper food storage, regular vacuuming, and removing cardboard boxes from storage areas. Fewer prey means fewer centipedes.
- Keep vegetation clear of your foundation. Maintain a 12-18 inch clearance between mulch, leaf litter, and your home’s exterior. This reduces harborage for centipedes moving toward your foundation.
- Monitor basement and crawl space conditions. Regular inspections reveal moisture problems early. Address standing water, condensation buildup, or excess humidity immediately.
When to Seek Professional Help
Most centipede situations resolve through environmental adjustments and basic exclusion techniques. However, if you experience persistent infestations despite implementing prevention strategies, or if you’re uncertain about species identification of a particularly aggressive centipede, contact a licensed pest control professional.
New Jersey-licensed exterminators can identify species precisely, assess moisture conditions comprehensively, and implement targeted solutions appropriate for your specific situation.
