What is this creepy-looking bug?

Question

I live in Northwestern Ohio and during the summer, I get this really weird bug in the house. It's a light tan color and is about 2-3 inches in length. It has a very thin body and about a million legs that are about half an inch long each.

I don't creep out very easily at all and this one just sends me running for the nearest chair...LOL

I don't think it is a centipede or a millipede. The color is all wrong and it moves FAST!

Okay, I just Googled "centipede".

It is a house centipede, fortunately of the non-venemous variety.

I checked out the image results and OH MY LORD I am going to have nightmares now...LOL

I thought centipedes had shorter legs and darker coloring, which is why I didn't think that's what it was.

You know, I can handle bugs; I can handle spiders. I can handle just about anything that nature wants to throw at me, but these things are NASTY!

Answer 1

a million legs? must be a megapede

100 legs = centipede
1000 legs = millipede

if you see a gigapede, RUN

Answer 2

I'm from Northwest Ohio too! We have both millipedes and centipedes here-- centipedes are kinda reddish and have longer legs (see http://www.erniespestcontrol.com/centipedepestcontrol.htm ). Millipedes are grayer brown with very short legs. (see http://www.erniespestcontrol.com/millipedepestcontrol.htm ). A cool site to look at bugs/birds/animals is enature.org. Or type "millipede" and "centipede" into google images. Final Answer: millipedes are cute-- if they creep you out they're centipedes! also,millipedes are slow-moving and centipedes are creepy fast!

Answer 3

I had those nasty things in an apartment. They live in damp areas. They are NOT centipedes or silverfish. Call an exterminator, and buy a bug spray like clear non odor Bug Stop. I saw one 4" once and they run fast

Answer 4

If it is a house cenitpede, then there is no danger to people. They will bit if you handle them, so try not to pick it up. They are very good pest control agents in the house, and will eat many types of insects in the home. They are very good at killing Dermestid beetles (carpet beetles) that may be damaging woolen or silken materieals in your house. Of course they are still not the cutest things in the world to look at, but they do wonders for your house in controling insects........however having them there adds more to the house anyways.......so its up to you if you wanna give it the big smash! hahaha.
I attached some images if you want to have a look at them, these sites are also very informative. I use them often when making references, and they actually have some good scientific information.
I hope this answers your question! Good Luck! dont fall off the chair...............hahaha

Answer 5

Probably a centipede. Millipedes have really really short legs.

And in reality, centipedes are good bugs. They eat household pests like ants and cockroaches, and do not harm food or furniture. Because they look icky though, people fear them.

Does it look like this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_centipede

Answer 6

Its a form of millipede that is also classified as a water bug. They come indoors due to the ground heating up. Normally found in basements, dark areas, damp areas or around washing machines.

Answer 7

Toledo, maybe?

If it has more than eight legs, you're talking centipede or millipede...they come in tan, red, brown, etc...

Answer 8

Centipede, it sounds like. Some can be poisonous. Call an exterminator if you are seeing them often.

Answer 9

A millipede(if it's body is round) or centipede(if it's body is flat)?

CAUTION: Centipede's are poisonous.

Answer 10

that sounds like a centipede wich is the creepiest bug that scares me

Answer 11

It sounds like a silver fish. They are kind of like caterpillars and they like to hang out in damp basements. They have really thin bodies and lots of long legs.