This is why you should never crush a house centipede inside your home

It goes against all reason and instinct, but you really shouldn’t squash a home centipede (a type of needle-like centipede).

Even if you’re in the bathroom at 2:00AM and one comes out of the drain, you have to resist the urge.

It’s challenging, we know, because there aren’t many creepy crawlies quite like the house centipede.

Even those of us who are immune to the fear of insects, spiders, ants, and cockroaches will get a shiver at the sight of this crawling centipede.

And the disgust effect only increases when you think about their favorite hangouts. They love to hang out in damp, wet places, and they could even become permanent residents of your toilet if you're not careful.

It's definitely a good idea to get them out of the house, but if you have the urge to step on them, you have to resist it.

The reason why is very simple: you should never squash a house centipede because it's the only thing standing between you and a toilet full of other nasty creatures.

Meet the house centipede.

Unlike its worm-like cousins, this centipede has a relatively short body, with about 30 legs.

Yes, it looks like eyelashes brought back to life, and it’s the stuff nightmares are made of.

Still, never squash it, no matter how much you want to.

They may be disgusting, but they are nature’s best defense mechanism against much more disgusting creatures.

Think about it: a house centipede is disgusting, but it’s also quite an eater.

Its favorite foods include ants, spiders, cockroaches, and silverfish.

In fact, any insect that enters your home is a gourmet meal for this centipede.

A silverfish like the one pictured above is particularly relevant.

Because silverfish and house centipedes like to hang out in the same cool, humid environment.

If you see centipedes but don't see silverfish coming out of your sink, you can thank your centipede friend for taking care of the problem for you.

This does not mean that you should let the house centipede roam free like a house cat.

They are disgusting, and they have a very bad habit of running quickly out of their hiding place. And they move quickly, very quickly.

In 1902, an entomologist for the United States Department of Agriculture described them this way:

You may see them running rapidly across the floor before stopping and completely motionless, and then starting again rapidly towards the occupants of the house.. thus causing great fear.

You do not need to be scared of them!

Instead of squashing them, simply collect them in a jar or bucket, and take them outside to a damp place with rocks and leaves, where it will be better able to continue living like a king.

You can also try reducing the humidity in areas like the shower and toilet to keep them away.

If you only see one or two house centipedes, we even suggest leaving them alone and letting them stay.

If you don’t bother them, they won’t bother you, and they’ll take care of all the other bugs for you.

It’s important to note that if you do decide to squash a house centipede, you risk releasing hundreds of tiny ones. Just let them do their thing.

Most importantly, the average house centipede can’t hurt you - except to scare the crap out of you.

It can’t bite or sting like its cousin the larger centipedes.

Unlike cockroaches and flies, the house centipede doesn’t bring diseases into your home, especially when it spends a lot of its time meticulously cleaning its feet.

In other words, it just wants to eat the spiders in your shower and make you happy, and there’s nothing wrong with that.