# What Do Centipedes Eat?

> What centipedes eat: Carnivore (insects, spiders, small animals), foraging style, and seasonal shifts in Soil, leaf litter, and damp places worldwide.

- **Species:** Centipede (*Chilopoda*)
- **Conservation status:** Least Concern
- **Diet:** Carnivore (insects, spiders, small animals)
- **Habitat:** Soil, leaf litter, and damp places worldwide
- **Lifespan:** 1–6 years (varies by species)
- **Top speed:** Fast; some sprint to escape and hunt
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/centipede/what-do-centipede-eat/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/centipede/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

Centipedes (class Chilopoda) are fast, venomous invertebrate predators recognised by their long, flattened bodies and many legs, one pair per body segment. Found in soil, leaf litter, and damp places worldwide, they range from a few millimetres to over 30 cm (12 in) long and run swiftly on their many legs to catch insects, spiders, and other small animals. Most species live 1 to 6 years and are listed as Least Concern.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need a captive feeding plan from a veterinarian. This page is wild diet, not a pet-care sheet.

## Body and legs

A centipede has a long, flattened body divided into many segments, each bearing a single pair of legs, which is what sets it apart from the millipede with its two pairs per segment. Despite the name, which means hundred-footed, the number of leg pairs varies widely between species and is always odd. The many legs are set out along the sides so they do not tangle during a quick escape or chase. Body length ranges enormously, from tiny species just a few millimetres long to tropical giants exceeding 30 cm (12 in).

## Help protect the Centipede

Even familiar animals lose ground as wild habitat keeps shrinking worldwide.

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/centipede/what-do-centipede-eat/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.