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While most insects have 4-6 legs like silverfish who have 6, there are some extremely common bugs with lots of legs such as spiders and scorpions who have 8, pillbugs who have 14, and others such as centipedes and millipedes, who can have any where from 30 to over 1300.
5 Common Bugs With Lots of Legs
It’s officially spring in the Garden State, and it won’t be long until insects and bugs invade your home or yard. While most people don’t like anything that crawls near them, one thing that tends to make them cringe even more is bugs with lots of legs.
While most bugs have 4-6 legs, creatures like the scorpion and spiders have eight. We see and treat homes with all types of bugs, but the more legs you see on a creature, usually means they can move quicker to get out of harm’s way.
1. Centipedes
You likely knew that centipedes would make a list of bugs with lots of legs. They’re known for their massive number of legs, and this moisture-loving species can have up to 380 legs on them. That’s quite a lot for a bug that averages 1-4 inches long.
Centipedes use their legs to hunt as fangs. They don’t need quite that many legs to get around, but they sure come in handy when maneuvering in and out of tight spaces. This invertebrate predator can travel forward or backward using the power of all those legs to guide them.
One reason why this bug is so hard to capture is that they move so swiftly. The more a bug with lots of legs has, the faster one can be. Many people don’t realize that centipedes are poisonous. They will attack anything in their path, including you, if they feel threatened. Children love to play with them but they don’t know they are dangerous.
A bite from a centipede feels like a bee sting. Most people recover quickly but there are cases of people who have died from the centipede bite because they were allergic to the venom.
2. Millipedes
It was often the case that we didn’t see many millipedes in New Jersey, as they prefer the warmer Western States like California. However, there’s been an upswing of these creatures moving around the New England states. They have way more legs than centipedes, although the two are commonly mistaken. Centipedes are quite a bit larger than a millipede, so if you look at them side by side, it’s easy to see the difference between them.
Millipedes can have anywhere from 300 to 700 legs. An interesting fact about this bug is that the males will have fewer legs than the females. Millipedes are bugs with lots of legs and use these hundreds of legs to travel and in their mating process.
There are legs in the back called the gonopods, which are vital in mating. They create sperm packets that help pass their semen to the female to reproduce. The legs transfer this packet from male to female.
Another fun fact about this bug is that they’re originally only born with eight legs. However, as they grow and molt, the body produces new rings with legs attached.
3. Silverfish
You’ve likely come across silverfish if you have a basement or a home with a lot of moisture collection. Even though they’re not fish, they have scales on their bodies that make them shine like one. However, they tend to be more snake-like as they sliver in and out of the tiniest areas to stay out of sight.
You’ll often find these in a bathroom, especially if you have a water leak or need to seal your tub. Silverfish have six legs, but their pair of appendages on the back side makes it look like a bug with lots of legs. Something ironic about this bug that doesn’t happen with other multilegged creatures is they can jump.
Silverfish can jump so high and that is what helps them travel into the creepy areas of your home. They can live for a long time because they do not require much to survive. The basics of cardboard and paper are all that is needed to keep them alive.
Silverfish love hanging out in areas that are humid and wet so it’s unlikely you will see these insects in the cabinets of your kitchen. These tiny little bugs can cause a scare from their appearance; however, what should scare you most is what’s bringing them inside and close to you.
4. Spiders
It’s a common misconception that spiders are considered bugs or insects. They fit into neither group, as they’re considered arachnids. If you examine a spider of any species, you will see they have three main body parts.
Their bodies are divided into the head area, thorax or abdomen, and legs. The wings sit among the thorax, and the portions are evenly distributed from equal points of the core. Where the confusion comes in is that both spiders and insects are part of the grouping of arthropods.
Spiders don’t have many legs, as most bugs with lots of legs that have 4-6, but they’re worth mentioning because of the fear they invoke. Additionally, their legs are often quite long, making the eight more menacing. Some species, like the jumping spider, can have eight legs, four eyes, and large fangs.
They can look right at you and make their move. Arachnophobia is the fear of spiders, and it’s estimated that there are more than 15% of the population suffers from this anxiety-based condition. In most instances, spiders look scarier than they actually are to humans.
While the most venomous spider is the funnel web spider, which has venom so lethal it can kill you in a matter of minutes. The good news is that you won’t see any of those around New Jersey. There are very few spiders that can take you out in this area.
The most dangerous to New Jersey residents would be the brown recluse and the black widow. Many folks are terrified of the wolf spider due to its massive body, but they’re harmless to humans.
5. Pillbugs
Another bug that craves moisture is the pill bug. They’re called many names, from potato bugs to roly-poly, but what’s shocking about these creatures is that they’re not an insect. It seems only likely they would fit into that category, but they’re a crustacean.
When dealing with a humid or rotted environment, you’ll find these bugs with lots of legs nearby. They can move quickly due to their seven pairs of legs, making a total of 14 that help them scurry. Their shell-like exterior protects them, so some people call them armadillo bugs due to their resemblance.
Shockingly, there are 4,000 different species of them, but you’ll usually find them outdoors. They’re only tempted to come into your home when the atmosphere is right. They don’t care for living plants and vegetation; they want rotted and decayed varieties.
If you have mold, mildew, moisture, leaking pipes, and old food sitting around, you’re asking for trouble. Should you see one of these inside your home, you should be concerned. Like the silverfish, they wouldn’t be there if the atmosphere wasn’t right.
They can roll up into a tight ball to protect themselves if you see or dare try to touch them. Don’t worry too much if they get inside your home. They can’t survive indoors for too long. Oddly, they’re great to have in your gardens as they help balance the PH levels in the soil, which will increase your plants’ nutritional content. They’re fascinating to watch as they’re pretty clever when protecting themselves, which is where some of their nicknames are derived.
Managing Bugs with Lots of Legs
It doesn’t matter what pest you are facing an infestation from; we can help. Silverfish and spiders may not sound a huge alarm but with spiders, some do bite. Those living in your home with allergies may be more at risk to the types of pests crawling around your home.
All the bugs listed are more afraid of you than you are of them, so they won’t attack you. However, if you get in their space or they feel threatened, almost any bug or insect can bite or sting. If you think that bugs with lots of legs are overrunning you, call Kapture Pest Control to help. We will get to the source of the problem and help you find a resolution.
