House Centipede

Scutigera coleoptrata — the house centipede — is one of about 3,300 species in class Chilopoda (the centipedes), which is a SEPARATE arthropod class from insects (class Insecta) — the two diverged in the Cambrian over 500 million years ago. House centipedes are Mediterranean in origin and have spread cosmopolitanly through human dwellings. Adults have 15 pairs of long thin legs (one per body segment), giving the impression of having far more legs than the typical large centipedes (which actually have many more — Scolopendra has 21 pairs and Geophilus has up to 191 pairs, but Scutigera's longer legs make her appear leggier). The species is the fastest-running centipede in the world: documented top speed is approximately 0.4 m/s on smooth surfaces, achieved by the longest hind legs propelling forward and the front legs pulling. House centipedes are ambush predators of other small arthropods: documented prey includes cockroaches, silverfish, ants, bed bugs, termites, spiders, fly larvae, and small earwigs. They use the modified front pair of legs (forcipules) to inject venom into prey — the venom is potent against insect prey but produces only a mild bee-sting-equivalent reaction in humans. The species is largely nocturnal, prefers high humidity (basements, bathrooms, crawlspaces), and can live 3-7 years — exceptionally long for a small arthropod. Despite the dramatic appearance, she is widely encouraged as a beneficial indoor predator by integrated pest management professionals.