House Centipede Silverfish: How to Tell the Difference

Finding bugs in your home can be unsettling. But how do you know if that creepy crawly is a relatively harmless house centipede or a destructive silverfish? Understanding the key differences between the two common household pests will help homeowner determine the best way to control a centipede and silverfish infestation.

What House Centipedes and Silverfish Look Like

Key Physical Characteristics

House centipedes and silverfish may look similar at first glance – they both have long, multi-legged bodies. But there are some key physical differences:

• Legs: House centipedes have 15 pairs of legs. Their last pair of legs are super long compared to the rest. Silverfish only have Six legs, all of similar length.
• Body: Mature female house centipedes reach over 1-inch long. Silverfish rarely exceed half an inch.
• Color: House centipedes have a yellowish-grey body with three dark longitudinal stripes running down their backs. Silverfish are more uniformly grey/silver in color.
• Antennae: House centipedes have incredibly long, delicate antennae. Silverfish antennae are much shorter and tapered.

At a Glance

So in summary – house centipedes are much larger with longer legs, especially that rear pair. They also have stripes on their backs. Silverfish are smaller, lack stripes and have more uniform legs.

Differences in Behavior: Centipedes vs Silverfish

Movement and Habits

These two insects also behave quite differently:

• Movement: House centipedes are incredibly fast, darting across floors and walls. Silverfish move much more slowly.
• Habits: House centipedes prefer dark, damp places like basements, closet crawl spaces, and behind walls.  Silverfish tend to hide out in undisturbed places like attics and eat book bindings, wallpaper, photos and starch in clothing.

Bites?

• Biting: House centipedes have venomous claws and can inflict painful (but rarely dangerous) bites. Silverfish do not bite humans.

So house centipedes are speedy hunters while silverfish are slower, more likely to simply hide and eat household goods. And those nasty house centipede bites are a good reminder to keep your distance!

Removing House Centipede vs Silverfish Infestations

If you discover either of these pests in your home, you’ll want to act quickly to get rid of them. Here’s a simple overview of treating centipede and silverfish infestations:

Eliminating House Centipedes

House centipedes are adept climbers, squeezing through tiny cracks and crevices both indoors and out. To get rid these scary looking pests:

• Remove food sources – centipedes prey on other insects like spiders and cockroaches. Getting rid of these other bugs eliminates centipede food sources.
• Fix leaky plumbing – centipedes need moisture, so fixing drips and leaks helps keep them away.
• Apply insecticides – find centipede hiding spots indoors and spray with insecticides. Pay special attention to cracks along walls and floor moldings.
• Professional Help – Work with a professional pest control company if infestations persist. Their powerful chemicals and treatment regimens help eliminate severe centipede problems.

Removing Silverfish

Eliminating silverfish takes diligence and patience:

• Remove food sources like book bindings, photos, wallpaper and starch. This may mean inspecting items in drawers, bookshelves, attics etc.
• Fix moisture issues throughout the home. Dehumidifiers help keep basements and other damp areas dry.
• Apply desiccant dusts. These moisture-absorbing dusts disturb silverfish nesting areas and eventually kill them. Focus on cracks and crevices.
• Use sticky traps to monitor for continued activity. Traps also catch wandering silverfish.
• Professional Help – Call a professional pest management company for severe infestations. Fumigation treatment may be required for whole-home elimination.

Additional Treatment Considerations

So in summary – controlling house centipedes requires removing food sources, sealing entry points and applying targeted insecticide sprays. Fixing silverfish problems is about eliminating their humid hiding spots, desiccating them with dusts and using traps to monitor activity.

Still Unsure? How to Tell if You Have House Centipedes or a Silverfish

Recognizing  Physical  Key Differences

House centipedes and silverfish may share some common pest habits. But learning to recognize the keydifferences between these two home invaders helps you control infestations.

Here are some of the most notable physical ways to distinguish house centipedes from silverfish when trying to identify that creepy crawly:

• Legs and body – If it’s over an inch long with 15 pairs of striped legs – it’s likely a house centipede. More uniform bugs under 1/2 inch are probably silverfish.
• Antennae – Long, delicate antennae indicate a house centipede. Short tapered antennae signal a silverfish.
• Color – A yellowish-grey bug with dark stripes running down its back is a dead giveaway for a house centipede.

Behavioral Differences

Look also at differences in how they move and act:

• Speed – Quick, darting bugs are centipedes. Slow crawling ones are silverfish.
• Habits – Centipedes actively hunt for other household pests while silverfish simply hide and nibble on starchy goods.
• Biting Risk – Painful bites come from aggressive house centipedes, not silverfish.

Next Steps After Identifying House Centipedes or Silverfish

Once you’ve correctly identified your pest problem, it’s easier to focus treatment on the specific habits of house centipedes vs silverfish. Getting back to a bug-free home provides peace of mind when unfamiliar crawling and biting creepy crawlies invade your space.

Seek Professional Pest Control Help

If you discover unidentifiable pests, contact a professional pest control company. Experts can accurately identify infestations and create targeted treatment plans to safely eliminate house centipedes, silverfish and other common pests.

Prevent Future Infestations

Learn ways to pest-proof your home going forward:

• Install weather stripping around doors and windows
• Caulk cracks and crevices
• Fix moisture issues
• Keep a tidy home, storing food properly
• Inspect new/used furniture for signs of bugs