Japan - It doesn't look real, but it is – and whatever this bug is, it's blowing up the internet with its creepy look and insane size!

"OMG! WHAT IS THAT?!"

That seems like a pretty reasonable question from Reddit user Saucy_Lemur, who is currently living in Japan and spotted this bizarre thing in the window of his apartment. Naturally, he immediately took a picture of it.

His other observation was even more worrying: "They are fast!" He wasn't the only one who was shocked by the insect. With over 77,000 upvotes and 8,500 comments, the post ended up certified viral!

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"New fear unlocked," one user wrote, while another offered some comfort: "I don't care who you are, it's okay if you shrieked like a little girl." "I think you gave me a new phobia," quipped a third.

Those who managed to overcome their repulsion at the photo tried their best to solve the mystery of the creepy crawler.

According to Unilad, the bug is actually a large house centipede, which can reach a total length of up to six inches.

But aside from potentially giving you a heart attack, they're pretty harmless. In fact, they can actually be useful housemates, as they keep all sorts of other insects at bay, including spiders and cockroaches.

The species is native to Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and Australia, so it's not just Japan where you're likely to encounter one of these creatures.

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Though they can sting, it happens very rarely and only if they feel cornered or are aggressively handled. A house centipede's sting are only mildly painful, with no lasting effects.

Because they feast on other insects, the best way to ensure you don't invite a house centipede into your home is through good pest control and by keeping a clean home with no "snacks" around to tempt them.

Generally, these animals simply ignore humans. Understandably thought, it's hard to return the favor.