![]() In actuality, arthropods commonly known as wood eating centipedes are millipedes. Centipedes are not likely to consume wood. Centipedes are primarily carnivorous and obtain most of their moisture needs from their prey Most house centipedes are nocturnal, and prey primarily on flies, spiders and sometimes plant tissue, causing injury. ![]() When they invade homes, centipedes are most commonly found in damp basements, crawlspaces, bathrooms or potted plants.Īll centipedes have very poor eyesight and track their prey through the use of touch and smell. Females of Scutigera have been known to produced 35 eggs over a period of days.Ĭentipedes are found in areas of high moisture, such as loose bark, in rotting logs, under stones, in trash or piles of leaves and grass. ![]() Their legs and antennae are shorter than those of the house centipede.Ĭentipedes typically overwinter outdoors in protected situations and lay their eggs during the summer, usually in or on the soil. The largest centipedes are in the genus Scolopendra and may grow to as much as 6” (15 cm) long. The antennae and last pair of legs are longer than its body. The house centipede has 15 pairs of long legs. Its body is grayish yellow with three longitudinal dark stripes. This centipede is about 1-1 1/2” (25-38 mm) long. The usual pest species is the common house centipede Scutigera coleoptrata (Linnaeus). In fact, some centipedes have compound eyes containing as many as 200 optical units, while others have a cluster of simple eyes on each side of the hear or no eyes. They have small mouths and have large, claw-like structures that contain a venom gland. The heads of centipedes have a pair of long and sensitive antennae covered with dense hairs. In general, the body of a centipede is usually yellowish to dark brown in color, sometimes with darker stripes or markings. Interestingly, centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs. They can actually have anywhere from 15-177 pairs of legs with one pair per segment, depending on the species. We recommend keeping mulch at least a few inches away from the foundation of your home.House centipedes are easy to spot by their elongated, worm-like body with their many pairs of legs. Much like leaf litter, mulch is a prime habitat for centipedes and millipedes.
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