Observations by randiesnow

Scientific Name: Scutigera coleoptrata
Common Name: House Centipede

Habitat & Geographic Range
The house centipede is known to reside in dark, damp locations (Jacobs, 2013). They can be found outside under structures such as rocks that provide shelter, however they are more commonly found inside buildings or residential areas (Jacobs, 2013). According to Jacobs, these house centipedes thrive in any humid and dark atmosphere such as basements and/or bathrooms.
The Scutigera coleoptrata is most commonly found in North-central areas of the united states and southern Canada (Summers, 1979). The centipede was once a native species to the Mediterranean areas and often found in Europe and Asia as well. However, as of now they the majority of this species resides in North America (Barnes, 2003).

Size, Weight & Lifespan
The size of the House Centipede ranges from about 1-6 cm in length and has 15 long legs that gives the insect a larger circumference (Arnett, 1985). It takes about 3 years for this species to fully mature. The average life span is 3-6 years of age (Summers, 1979).

Diet
House centipedes are a very carnivorous species. They feed on many different arthropods such as ants, cockroaches, silverfish, snails, small worms, fly larvae and others (Jacobs, 2013). Despite the fact that this animal commonly resides in homes, it is not known to feed on food ruminants, such as crumbs, found within the home (Shaw, 2016). The Scutigera coleoptrata does most of its hunting of prey during the night and under the cover of darkness (Shaw, 2016).

Reproduction & Communication
During mating season (summer months), the female and male have a courtship ritual. They form a circle and use their antennae to tap each other (Lewis, 1981). Once the eggs have become fertile, the female then proceeds to lay the eggs in cervices in dirt to keep them covered from predators. On average a female house centipede will lay 4 eggs per day (Lewis, 1981).

Predators
The house centipede falls prey to many different animals such as shrews, birds, toads, and sometimes even spiders (Summers, 1979). However, centipedes can rely on defense mechanisms. Since they have 15 legs and fairly light bodies, they are able to dart away from prey at high speeds. This species also has small fangs containing a toxic poison that can inhibit a predator from pursuit (Shaw, 2016).

Conservation Status
The House Centipede is not seen as an endangered or threatened species due to their vast population (Shaw, 2016).

Did You Know?
If a centipede is attacked and some of it’s legs are detached, this species is still able to live and regenerate the severed legs (Barnes, 2013).

References
Arnett, R. H. (1985). American insects: A handbook of the insects of America north of Mexico. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold

Barnes, J. (2013). House centipede - University of Arkansas. Retrieved October 13, 2016, from http://www.uark.edu/depts/entomolo/museum/house_centipede.html

Jacobs, S. (2013, January). House Centipedes — Department of Entomology — Penn. Retrieved October 14, 2016, from http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/house-centipedes

Lewis, J. G. (1981). The biology of centipedes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Shaw, C. (2016). Animalia arthropoda chilopoda scutigeromorpha scutigeridae scutigera coleoptrata. Retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://work.colum.edu/~cshaw/scutigera.php

Summers, G. (1979). An Illustrated Key to the Chilopods of the North-Central Region of the United States. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 52(4), 690-700. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/25083982