House Centipede
Scutigera coleoptera 
SIZE: 1 to 1½ inches (2.5-3.8 cm) long.

COLOR: The body is grayish-yellow with 3 dark stripes extending along the full length of its back.

DESCRIPTION: The house centipede is a common pest in Toronto and the GTA. Unlike most other centipedes, this species generally lives its entire life inside a building. 

HABITAT: In homes, the house centipede prefers to live in damp areas such as basements, bathrooms, and unexcavated areas under the house.

LIFE CYCLE: House centipedes lay their eggs in spring, with an average of 63 and a maximum of 151 eggs laid. The larvae look like miniature versions of the adult with fewer legs. Young centipedes have four pairs of legs when they are hatched. They gain a new pair with the first molt and two pairs with every of their five subsequent moltings. Adults with 15 pairs of legs retain that number through three more molting stages (sequence 4-5-7-11-13-15-15-15-15 pairs). House centipedes live anywhere from three to seven years, depending on the environment.
TYPE OF DAMAGE: The house centipede forages at night for small insects and their larvae, and for spiders. From an entomological point of view they are beneficial.  Although the centipede can bite, its jaws are quite weak causing only slight swelling if a bite occurs. Most homeowners usually take a different point of view and insist they be eliminated.

CONTROL: M.D. Pest Control can provide an interior residual pesticide application to exterminate the centipede activity inside your home. This treatment is performed when the population of centipedes is exceeding the tolerance of the homeowner.  In most cases no treatment is required, however upon request M.D. Pest Control will treat to eliminate house centipedes, ask your exterminator what’s right for you.