If you see a slimy-looking insect with lots of legs darting quickly across your kitchen, bathroom, or basement floor, it may startle and alarm you. But it could also cause confusion because it can be hard to tell exactly what it is you saw.
Both silverfish and centipedes can be found in these places, as well as hide in other dark and damp crevices in your home. They both have different qualities — some that you may even find beneficial, while others could completely gross you out.
So, what’s the difference between these two fast and creepy crawling creatures? In this article, I’ll answer this question for you, as I take a closer look at silverfish vs centipede.
Silverfish Vs Centipede
It’s never fun to jump out of your skin when you see a fast and slimy-looking creepy crawly making its way across your path. But what did you actually see?
Was it a silverfish or a centipede?Â
Both of these creatures have lots of legs that help them move around really quickly, so it’s very easy to confuse the two.
But for starters, there is a big difference between the two, and that comes down to their appearance.
Silverfish are always a grayish-silvery color (hence the name), and even though they move quite fast, they maneuver themselves like a fish, due to their tapered tails. Here’s what a silverfish looks like:
Meanwhile, the kinds of centipedes that you’ll find in your home are generally house centipedes, and they range in color from yellowish brown or reddish to dark brown. Most species of centipedes also have stripes — either along their segments or down the length of their bodies.
But besides the major difference in the way these two animals look, silverfish and centipedes are actually very different creepy creatures.
To start with, this is because one is an insect, while the other is a different kind of animal altogether.
Besides the major difference in the way these two animals look, silverfish and centipedes are actually very different creepy creatures. To start with, this is because one is an insect, while the other is a different kind of animal altogether.
So, let’s take a closer look at each one. First, the centipede…
What Is A Centipede?
The normal house centipede can be a scary sight if you find one or a few running quickly around your house. However, these animals are not the nuisance that you might think at first.
They aren’t technically insects but instead are known as arthropods, which are animals that have segmented exoskeletons with a pair of spindly and long legs for each segment.
They also have venomous claws that protrude from their heads, along with sensitive antennae that have dense hairs attached.
She’s Got Legs!
On average, house centipedes have around 15-35 pairs of legs, not 100 pairs like their name suggest, although other species can have up to 177 pairs! But even with only 15 pairs, they can move around alarmingly fast! And they can move in any direction, which can give you a real fright if you see one.
Where Do Centipedes Like To Hide?
House centipedes are nocturnal, but also live outside, which may surprise you considering their name. But when inside a home, they’re generally spotted in places that are dark and moist, such as bathrooms, basements, and kitchens, anywhere you find drains and moisture, and even closets that are damp and not well-ventilated.
House centipedes are nocturnal, but also live outside, which may surprise you considering their name. But when inside a home, they’re generally spotted in places that are dark and moist, such as bathrooms, basements, and kitchens, anywhere you find drains and moisture, and even closets that are damp and not well-ventilated.
Don’t Forget the Venom
And yes, I did mention that they have venomous claws. But they generally use these to poison their prey. They will only attack and cause a painful nip if they feel threatened, so it is unlikely that you will ever be bitten yourself.Â
Of course, if you have small pets like cats or dogs at home, it is possible that they will get stung if they play with a house centipede. But it is extremely unlikely that they will become sick from the venom.
And if they eat it, they most likely won’t get sick.
The Good Side of Centipedes
So, if you do spot a house centipede in your home, you might not want to squish it or get rid of it, because they do have a very beneficial quality.
Wait, what?Â
Yes, centipedes can be of benefit to your home, because they will feast off of other insects that can become pests in your home, including bed bugs, cockroaches, termites, beetles, spiders — and even silverfish.
This makes centipedes kind of like nature’s very own pest control.  Â
And because centipedes don’t generally hang out in one particular space to form a nest, if you do see one, then it is simply on the hunt for some prey to feed.
So, this means that if you see quite a few, then you’ll definitely want to investigate further, because you probably have an infestation of one of the above insects that you will want to deal with as soon as possible.
But even after reading all of this, if the thought of sharing your space with a house centipede or three fills your head with nightmares, then it’s pretty easy to keep these creepy creatures away from your home completely.
Just seal cracks and reduce the amount of dampness and moisture in the air.Â
Make sure that your door and window frames are sealed properly, along with any plumbing fixtures on the outside walls of your home. These crevices and holes are how centipedes find their way in.Â
This is good practice for everyone, from a pest standpoint and from an energy efficiency standpoint.
Also, you can buy a dehumidifier, which will not only eliminate all of the excess moisture in your home but will also force the centipedes to find hiding places elsewhere.
What Is A Silverfish?
Just like centipedes, silverfish are nocturnal. And also like centipedes, they are generally found in places like kitchens, bathrooms, attics, and basements, because these environments contain damp and dark spaces that they like to keep hidden.
But this is where the similarities between these two creatures end.
Just like centipedes, silverfish are nocturnal. And also like centipedes, they are generally found in places like kitchens, bathrooms, attics, and basements, because these environments contain damp and dark spaces that they like to keep hidden.
Back to the Insect World
Silverfish are insects, not arthropods, and although they’re non-venomous and completely harmless to humans, they will destroy things around your home if there is lots of moisture and humidity in the air.Â
Watch Your Pantry!
They also love to eat dried foods like grains, pet food, cereals, and pasta, and will have a field day in your kitchen cupboards if they find any of these products open and unsealed.
Silverfish will also feed off of, and cause damage to, old newspapers, books and magazines, carpets, and even old wallpaper, as well as your clothing, bedsheets, or other fabrics, if they detect perspiration and moisture.
Therefore, you’ll want to get rid of silverfish if you see them because they can even feed on dust and fungal molds.
And so, anywhere in your house or apartment that is moist and/or cluttered can provide the perfect habitat where silverfish will make themselves at home — in your home.Â
One tell-tale sign that you have a silverfish infestation is their feces, which are quite unique, because they look a lot like little black peppercorns, and these can be easily dismissed as general dirt and debris that accumulates every day.Â
How Many Legs?
Unlike the many sets of legs that centipedes have, silverfish only have six legs. They also have three long appendages that are located on their back ends, along with two long antennae at the front, which can make them look like they have lots of legs.
Infestation!
Also unlike centipedes, which don’t cause infestations in households, if you find one silverfish, then it means you probably do have a problem! Because the female silverfish can lay up to three eggs in one just day if the conditions are right and if they have enough to feast on.
Because they can hide so well (unless you are aware of the signs of infestation), it can be difficult to get rid of them completely. Silverfish can even find hiding places in light fixtures, window cracks, and door frames.
In order to keep your home and belongings safe, the signs of silverfish infestation that you need to look out for are:Â
- Noticing one or more silverfish darting around
- Tiny black peppercorn-like feces
- Shedded silvery skin shells
- Irregular holes in your clothing, bedding, and other fabrics
- Damage to books and carpets
Final Thoughts
Although they may look the same at first glance, silverfish and centipedes are definitely not the same kettle of fish. They’re not even the same family of creatures! Both have concerns related to them, and it’s good to be aware of their presence, and deal with them as necessary.
I hope now can easily tell the difference between silverfish vs centipede. Sometimes it’s worth knowing exactly what you’re dealing with, when it comes to creepy crawlies that can give you nightmares.
