Tiny alien-like pests with furry legs are spotted crawling up sinks and terrifying homeowners

A spike in sightings of alien-looking critters crawling out of sinks inside homes has led terrified homeowners to take to social media demanding answers.

The ghoulish-looking creature has a thin, pale body paired with upwards of 15 spiky legs and two dangling tentacles. 

One woman took to social media to upload a photo of the critter climbing out of her kitchen sink, asking her followers if they knew what it was. 

Hand on Creatures founder and Bug expert Brian Lawton told Stuff the critter was in fact a reasonably harmless house centipede.

Mr Lawton said that – despite the centipede’s off-putting appearance – it was a handy critter to have around the house, preying on other insects and spiders.

Despite their ghoulish look they are a great benefit to people who don’t like having insects or arachnids in their home because those are the primary food source for house centipedes

‘It’s the movement that gets people … they have so many legs and glide over the surfaces,’ he told the publication.

‘They come in the house and chase and catch other bugs, there’s certainly no disadvantage having them in your house.’ 

The centipede is part of the Scutigera family and can grow up to 40mm long.

Endemic to Australia, the house centipede is more accustomed to warm, humid climates but able to adapt to a variety of conditions.

When the colder months roll around people are more likely to find them inside their homes.

It could be the sign of a pest infestation somewhere in your home which has brought the centipede in to feed. 

Some of the most common places to find a house centipede in your home are in drains, beneath concrete slabs and around pipes. 

‘It’s the movement that gets people … they have so many legs and glide over the surfaces,’ Hand on Creatures founder and Bug expert Brian Lawton said

The centipede is part of the Scutigera family and can grow up to 40mm long and are more accustomed to warm, humid climates but are very adaptable, which is why when the colder months roll around people are more likely to find them inside their homes