Redditor Finds Massive House Centipede In Japanese Apartment

Moving to a different country means adapting to all kinds of change. From subtle cultural differences to language and living spaces, the distinction can be dramatic!

One Redditor found an unexpected change when he moved to Japan, in the form of a “geji geji,” or Japanese House Centipede.

The species, formally known as Scutigera coleoptrata, typically grows anywhere from a half-inch to an inch and a half, but this specimen looks to be much bigger, especially with antennae included:

“They are FAST!” the Redditor explained in the photo’s caption. The post, which was shared by u/Saucy_Lemur to the r/oddlyterrifying subreddit, quickly garnered thousands of comments and more than 77,000 upvotes.

Many users shared how they would have been too scared to react if they’d seen a geji geji in their house. “I was playing whack-a-mole with a foam roller,” the Redditor responded.

Though their appearance can be frightening, geji geji are helpful critters to have around, as they feed on cockroaches and other small bugs. Still, since they only hang around where they can get plentiful food, spotting a geji geji can be a reminder to keep the living space clean.

Some Redditors feared for the OP’s safety, since geji geji resemble another kind of Japanese centipede, the Mukade. Mukade leave painful, poisonous bites and are a symbol of evil in Japan for their sinister appearance and harmful habits.

Fortunately, the common house centipede that the OP found is harmless to humans. Unfortunately for anyone with a fear of creepy-crawlies, these centipedes can be found all over the world!

“Found this in my house. In North America,” one Redditor commented on the post. “They live all over the world so no need to ask where. You’re not safe,” they added, tongue-in-cheek.

Aside from the scare, no one was hurt, not even the centipede — it was too fast to catch, leaving u/Saucy_Lemur with nothing but a photo and a story — and a reminder that nature is wonderful, surprising, and often a little strange!