A house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is a species of centipede that commonly lives in human homes. It has a yellowish-gray body with three dark stripes down its back and very long legs—up to 15 pairs. Although it resembles having 75 to 100 mm in length due to its legs and antennae, the actual body length is around 25 to 35 mm (1 to 1.4 inches). House centipedes are fast runners and prey on other household pests like cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, and crickets by envenomating them. Their venom is not dangerous to humans, and bites are rare and generally harmless. House centipedes prefer damp, dark areas inside homes such as basements, bathrooms, and crawl spaces, but they are harmless and can actually help reduce other pest populations. Reducing humidity and sealing cracks in homes can help control their numbers if desired.

In summary, a house centipede is a centipede species adapted to live inside houses where it hunts other small pests; it is not harmful to humans but can look alarming due to its many long legs.