As temperatures rise during the summer, most North Carolina residents tend to stay inside air-conditioned spaces. Unfortunately, so do critters.

Among those creepy crawlers are centipedes, millipedes and silverfish.

Though they look similar, the multi-legged creatures have different physical characteristics and behaviors.

Here’s what to know about the critters, and how to keep them out your home.

How can you tell the critters apart?

According to Aruza Pest Control, a company based primarily in the Carolinas, centipedes and millipedes have “long, sectioned bodies, with a pair of legs supporting each section.”

But the difference is in the legs.

Centipedes have long, bent legs that jut out from their bodies, while millipedes have thin legs that are directly underneath their bodies, the company says.

Centipedes and millipedes are arthropods, along with spiders, lobsters and crabs. They belong to the subgroup myriapods.

It’s a popular misconception that you can tell the difference between centipedes by the number of legs they have, but centipedes can have anywhere from 30-354 legs, and the leg county for millipedes ranges from 24-750.

In contrast, silverfish are insects that have carrot-shaped bodies with two long antennae that extend from their heads and three long appendages that extend from their thorax region of their bodies, according to Go-Forth Home Services, a pest control company with offices in the Carolinas and Virginia.

Why do millipedes and centipedes go inside your home?

Though they prefer to live outside, centipedes and millipedes can thrive in indoor areas with moisture, meaning they’re more likely to invade your home if it’s humid, according to Aruza Pest Control.

“When centipedes get inside, they are usually found in basements, closets, and crawl spaces as these areas tend to be dark and damp,” the company says.

Centipedes and millipedes in search of prey may also enter your home if it has an infestation of smaller insects, the company warns.

Silverfish also prefer damp areas inside homes to escape the heat, such as basements, bathrooms and kitchens, according to South Carolina-based Cramer Pest Control.

Are the critters dangerous?

Centipedes and millipedes are considered nuisance pests, according to Aruza Pest Control, meaning they can cause discomfort, but they won’t seriously harm your health.

▪ Of the two, millipedes cause the most damage, leaving a mild rash on your skin if you come into contact with them and emitting a smelly fluid that can irritate your eyes and nose. They can also damage your plants by chewing them.

▪ Silverfish on the other hand are known for their “destructive feeding habits” and can devour paper and fabric, including book bindings, linen and rayon, according to Cramer Pest Control.

How to keep the crittrers out of your home

Here are some ways you can keep centipedes and millipedes out of your home, according to Aruza Pest Control:

• Remove natural hiding spots around the house, such as wood piles, gravel, and compost.

• Try to keep plants away from your home.

• Seal the area around your home, including cracks in your door frames, windows and vents.

• Make sure you don’t have any other infestations in your home.

You can follow the same tips to avoid a silverfish problem, along with reducing the excess humidity in your home by using a dehumidifier and eliminating access to food sources and paper products.

How to get rid of centipedes, millipedes & silverfish inside the home

If the insects make their way into your home, you can also use baits that contain boric acid or insecticides to get rid of the silverfish population in your home, the company says.