The Surprising Reason Indiana Homeowners Should Welcome This Creepy Bug

In our house, I am the official Bug Bouncer. If something has six (or more) legs and dares to show its face, I’m the one my wife, daughter, and son call to handle it. Spiders? No big deal. Crickets? I’ve got it. Stink bugs, flies, even mice – I don’t flinch. But there is one creature that makes my skin crawl. It’s not dangerous, and it doesn’t bite (much), but it looks like it crawled straight out of a horror movie.

Meet the Creepiest of the Creepy: The House Centipede

Let me introduce you to my arch-nemesis: Scutigera coleoptrata, a.k.a. the house centipede. These multi-legged monsters are quick, ghostly little streaks of terror that seem to live in my basement rent-free. With their 30 frantic legs and long antennae, they’re built like nightmares on a caffeine rush. And while they don’t technically have 100 legs, trust me - it feels like they do when they scurry across the floor at warp speed.

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Now here’s the part that I have a hard time wrapping my head around - apparently, these creepy creatures are on my side.

Wait - House Centipedes Are Actually the Good Guys?

I kept seeing the same social media post (from three different people, no less) claiming that house centipedes are helpful. They eat the pests we really hate - roaches, termites, silverfish, and more. They don’t build nests, don’t damage your home, and rarely bite. So, I did a little research, and - shockingly - it checks out.

I Offer An Unlikely Truce

So, will I still jump a little when I see a house centipede dart out from under the bathroom sink? Yes, I 100% will. But I will also try to remember to give it a pass, and hope it repays the favor.