When you spot an insect inside your home, what’s your first reaction? For many, it’s a strong urge to grab something and squash it. This reaction is understandable, considering that some insects can sting, spread germs, or even carry toxins. But before you act on that instinct, there’s one critter you might want to reconsider killing: the house centipede.

House centipedes are those fast-moving, multi-legged creatures that often give people a sense of unease. It’s easy to see why most people’s first thought is to eliminate them. However, before you rush to squash the next centipede you encounter, it’s worth understanding the beneficial role they play inside your home.

The sight of a centipede darting across the bathroom floor can be alarming, no doubt. But despite their unsettling appearance, house centipedes are actually valuable allies in controlling other pests. They serve as natural exterminators, targeting a range of common household pests that can be much more problematic. These centipedes are smaller than other types and have about 20 legs, making them highly effective hunters. They feast on cockroaches, spiders, silverfish, bedbugs, and ants—pretty much any arthropod they can catch.

While house centipedes can be beneficial, this doesn’t mean you should allow them to overrun your home. But if you see one or two, consider sparing them. Letting a few centipedes roam free is a small way of showing gratitude for their pest control efforts. If you’re not comfortable cohabiting with them, you can always try capturing and releasing them outside instead.

One reason to think twice before squashing a centipede is the potential aftermath of killing other insects. For instance, killing a spider could result in hundreds of baby spiders scattering across your floor—a sight far worse than a single centipede. In contrast, centipedes don’t release eggs when killed, making them a safer option to leave alone.

Additionally, centipedes aren’t as threatening as they appear. They are fragile creatures that generally pose little danger to humans. While their rapid movements can be startling, they don’t spread germs the way flies or roaches do. Their primary goal is to hunt other insects, not to cause harm to humans.

If centipedes still make you uncomfortable, it’s important to know that there are other insects you should be more concerned about. Here are some of the deadliest insects you might encounter indoors:

1. Bullet Ants: Known for delivering one of the most painful stings, which feels like being shot, these large ants are found in the jungles of Paraguay and Nicaragua.
2. Botfly Larvae: The danger comes from the larvae that burrow under human skin, causing infections and severe discomfort as they grow.
3. Fleas: These blood-sucking pests can cause itching, irritation, and even skin infections.
4. Fire Ants: They deliver painful, repeated stings that can cause white pustules lasting for weeks, and their venom can trigger allergic reactions.
5. Kissing Bugs (Chagas Disease): These bugs transmit a parasite that can cause Chagas disease, responsible for up to 12,000 deaths annually.
6. Giant Japanese Hornets: With their powerful stings, these hornets claim about 40 lives each year.
7. Tsetse Flies: Known for spreading sleeping sickness, these flies are estimated to cause 500,000 deaths annually in Africa.
8. Killer Bees: These aggressive bees attack in large swarms, which can be deadly due to the number of stings.
9. Driver Ants: With strong mandibles, these ants can kill small animals and deliver painful bites to humans.
10. Mosquitoes: Widely regarded as the deadliest insect on the planet, mosquitoes are responsible for up to 1 million deaths annually by transmitting diseases like malaria, encephalitis, and yellow fever.

So, while house centipedes might give you a scare, they are far from the worst insects you could encounter. In fact, they’re working hard to keep your home free of the more dangerous pests. Their presence is actually a sign that your home has natural pest control in action. The next time you see a house centipede, consider letting it live—it’s a helpful ally in disguise!