Although bothersome to some people, both centipedes and millipedes are beneficial to gardeners. Centipedes have one pair of legs per body segment, while millipedes have 2 pairs of legs persegment. Centipedes are predators of pest insects. Millipedes break down dead plant material. Centipedes move quickly, while millipedes are slow.
Household centipedes hunt flies, spiders and other insects at night.
They are harmless to humans and help by consuming other unwanted insects in the home. Correcting damp conditions will reduce indoor centipede populations. Centipedes and millipedes are common in the garden. They rest under boards or in damp soil. They are seen when soil or compost is turned.