The house centipede is a yellow gray arthropod with about 15 pairs of long legs. While there are other types of centipedes—usually darker in color and with shorter legs—the house centipede is the most prevalent in homes and is almost always found in cool, moist corners of the basement. These critters can bite, but their fangs and venom are almost exclusively reserved for their prey. Their bite to a human is much like a bee sting and should be observed for allergic reaction.
Since centipedes feed on other insects, including spiders, cockroaches, termites, and silverfish, they can be a great asset to controlling these pests in your home. They will be drawn to and follow a ready food source and they are expert hunters, so if you are suddenly seeing more of these nocturnal creatures in your home, you should consider the possibility you have an infestation of one of their favorite foods.