Antennae are long and prominent. The house centipede has 15 pairs of legs. It can easily fit through cracks and crevices to gain access into a house, and is usually found in basements, closets, or bathrooms, where it is dark and humid. It is most active at night. The house centipede breeds indoors.
Females lays eggs in spring or summer.
Eggs hatch quickly into small editions of the adult with fewer legs. They molt several times over the next 2-3 years before they are adults. The very small young and eggs are guarded by the female adult. As predators, centipedes capture their insect or spider prey with powerful claws on the first pair of legs. They inject a venom into the prey from special venom glands.