Will centipedes crawl on you?
Sarah Garza
Updated on May 24, 2026
Although house centipedes are “good” bugs, they may still make your skin crawl. If you don't want to share your home with them, rather than squash them, relocate them outside, where they'll continue to provide pest control.
Why do house centipedes run at you?
Centipedes are most active when temperatures get above 50°F. During the day, they will hide in damp, dark areas. At night, they will come out to hunt for food. If they are indoors, they might run toward you or up a wall when you enter a room and turn on the light, but don't worry!Are centipedes scared of you?
Turns out, centipedes are quite murderous little creatures, spending most of their day hunting for and eating their prey. Thankfully, house centipedes are frankly too afraid of humans and do not actively seek them out as any sort of prey.Can house centipedes see you?
House centipede behaviorAs you can see from their head, they have two very well-developed eyes and, for an insect, have pretty decent vision.