Few things wake you up faster than a long, fast-moving creature darting across the bathroom floor at night. Finding a centipede in a house in Singapore is common, especially in ground-floor flats, landed homes and places near greenery or open drains. Millipedes are even more common after heavy rain, sometimes arriving in small groups along door edges. This guide explains how to tell the two apart, how to remove them safely, what to do if someone is bitten, and how to make your home less inviting to both.
Centipede or Millipede: How to Tell Them Apart
Both have many legs and long bodies, but they behave very differently and carry different risks.
| Feature | Centipede | Millipede |
|---|---|---|
| Body shape | Flattened, often reddish-brown or dark with yellow legs | Rounded, tube-like, often dark brown or black |
| Legs | One pair per body segment, legs stick out to the sides | Two pairs per segment, legs tucked underneath |
| Movement | Very fast, darts away from light | Slow, steady crawl |
| Reaction when disturbed | Runs or may bite | Curls into a coil |
| Diet | Hunts insects such as cockroaches | Eats decaying leaves and plant matter |
| Risk to people | Can give a painful venomous bite | No bite, but may release an irritating fluid |
A quick rule: if it is fast and flat, treat it as a centipede and do not touch it with bare hands. If it is slow and curls up, it is almost certainly a millipede.
Why They End Up Indoors
Neither creature wants to live inside your home. They usually wander in looking for moisture, shelter or food, and certain conditions make that more likely.
- Heavy rain and flooding. Waterlogged soil pushes them out of the ground. Many households notice a spike after monsoon downpours.
- Ground-level living. Ground-floor HDB units, landed houses and terrace homes are closest to soil, drains and planters.
- Damp areas. Bathrooms, kitchen sinks, utility areas and yards with standing water attract both.
- Gaps and openings. Spaces under main doors, unscreened floor traps, cracks in tiles and gaps around pipes act as entry points.
- Garden debris. Leaf litter, mulch, potted plants, stacked bricks or wood against walls give shelter right next to the house.
- Prey insects. Centipedes follow food. A home with cockroaches or other small insects is more interesting to them.
Damp is a recurring theme. If parts of your home stay wet, our guide to dealing with mould and damp in your home covers ways to dry things out that also help with pests.
Removing a Centipede or Millipede Safely
For a centipede
- Keep children and pets away. Calmly move them to another room.
- Do not pick it up by hand. Wear thick gloves if you need to get close.
- Trap it. Place a deep jar or plastic container over it, slide stiff card underneath and lift. Long kitchen tongs also work for confident hands.
- Release or dispose. Release it well away from the house, such as near a grass verge, or dispose of it according to your preference.
- Check where it came in. Look at the nearest floor trap, door gap or pipe opening.
Spraying a household insecticide directly may work but can leave residue on floors that children and pets touch. Follow the product label closely and ventilate the room.
For a millipede
Millipedes are harmless to handle in the sense that they do not bite, but many species secrete a fluid that can stain skin and cause irritation, especially near eyes. Sweep them into a dustpan or use a tissue or glove, then put them outside in a planter or garden bed. If several appear at once, vacuuming them up and emptying the vacuum outdoors is a practical option.
What to Do If Someone Is Bitten
Centipede bites can be very painful and may cause redness, swelling and burning for some time. This is general information, not medical advice.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Apply a cold compress wrapped in a cloth to ease swelling.
- Keep the person calm and watch for changes.
- Seek medical attention promptly if the bite is on a young child, an elderly person or someone with health conditions, if pain or swelling is severe or spreading, or if there are signs of infection over the following days.
- Call 995 immediately for any sign of a serious allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness or a widespread rash.
If millipede fluid gets on skin, wash it off thoroughly. If it gets into the eyes, rinse with clean water and see a doctor.
How to Keep Centipedes and Millipedes Out
Prevention works best when you combine a few simple habits.
Seal the entry points
- Fit door sweeps or draught stoppers on main doors, back doors and yard doors, especially in landed homes.
- Cover floor traps. Use floor trap covers or anti-pest caps in bathrooms and yards, and keep them closed when not in use.
- Fill cracks and gaps around pipes, skirting and tiles with suitable sealant.
- Check window and ventilation screens for tears, particularly at ground level.
Reduce damp and clutter
- Dry bathroom floors after use and fix leaking taps or pipes.
- Run a fan, open windows or use a dehumidifier in rooms that stay humid.
- Avoid keeping piles of cardboard, newspapers or laundry on the floor in storerooms and bomb shelters.
- If you need help with lingering smells from damp corners, see how to remove musty smells and odours at home.
Manage the outdoor edge (landed and ground-floor homes)
- Clear fallen leaves, mulch and organic debris from the strip of ground right next to walls.
- Lift potted plants onto stands so the area underneath can dry out.
- Store bricks, timber and garden tools off the ground and away from doors.
- Keep perimeter drains flowing, and report blocked common drains to your town council if you live in an HDB estate.
Cut the food supply
Because centipedes hunt insects, controlling cockroaches, ants and other small pests indirectly makes your home less attractive. Keep food sealed, clear crumbs and take out rubbish daily.
When to Call a Pest Control Professional
A one-off centipede after a storm is not unusual. Consider professional help if you keep seeing them for weeks, find them in bedrooms or near a baby’s cot, or notice large numbers of millipedes returning despite your efforts.
When choosing a pest control company:
- Check that it is registered with the National Environment Agency (NEA), which maintains a register of vector control operators.
- Ask which products will be used, where they will be applied and whether they are suitable for homes with children and pets.
- Ask about re-entry times, follow-up visits and what happens if the problem returns.
- Get a written quote and scope of work before agreeing.
For problems in common areas such as corridors, void decks or shared drains, contact your town council or condo management office, since those areas are not the resident’s responsibility.
A Calm, Practical Approach
Centipedes and millipedes are part of living in a tropical, green city. A quick identification, a jar and a piece of card, and a few sealing and drying habits will handle most encounters. Treat centipedes with respect, keep millipedes away from your eyes, and focus your effort on damp spots and door gaps, where most visitors come from.
Explore more: Dealing With Spiders at Home · Dealing With Termites at Home
Official sources: National Environment Agency (NEA)
Further reading: What to Do If a Bat Flies Into Your Flat