House centipede
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Chilopoda Order: Scutigeromorpha Family: Scutigeridae Genus: Scutigera Species: S. coleoptrata
Binomial name
Scutigera coleoptrata Linnaeus, 1758

The house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, is a yellowish grey centipede with 15 pairs of legs. Originally endemic to the Mediterranean region, the species has spread to other parts of the world, where it usually lives in human homes. It is an insectivore; it kills and eats insects. This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... For other uses, see Centipede (disambiguation). ... Orders and Families See text Centipedes (Class Chilopoda) are fast-moving venomous, predatory, terrestrial arthropods that have long bodies and many jointed legs. ... Latin name redirects here. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Cover of the tenth edition of Linnaeuss Systema Naturae (1758). ... For other uses, see Centipede (disambiguation). ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Any organism with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures is an insectivore. ...

Natural history

The house centipede, when fully grown, is one to two inches long and has an average of 15 pairs of very long, delicate legs and a rigid body, which enables it to run with surprising speed up walls and along ceilings and floors. Its body is yellowish grey and has three dark-colored dorsal stripes running down its length; the legs also have dark stripes. Unlike most other centipedes, house centipedes and their close relatives have well-developed, faceted eyes. An insect leg The arthropod leg is a form of jointed appendage of arthropods, usually used for walking. ... Dorsal is an adjective which means, being at the back. ...

House centipedes feed on spiders, bedbugs, termites, cockroaches, silverfish, ants and other household arthropods. They kill their prey by injecting venom through their fangs. For other uses, see Spider (disambiguation). ... Genera Genus Cimex Lectularius Hemipterus (Rotundatus) Pilosellus Pipistrella Genus Leptocimex Boueti Genus Haematosiphon Inodora Genus Oeciacus Hirudinis Vicarius Bedbugs (or bed bugs) are small nocturnal insects of the family Cimicidae that live by hematophagy, feeding on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts. ... Families Mastotermitidae Kalotermitidae Termopsidae Hodotermitidae Rhinotermitidae Serritermitidae Termitidae Termites, sometimes known as white ants, are a group of social insects usually classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera. ... For other uses, see Cockroaches. ... Binomial name Linnaeus, 1758 For other uses, see Silverfish (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Ant (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ...

House Centipede

House centipedes lay their eggs in the spring. In a laboratory experiment of 24 house centipedes, an average of 63 and a maximum of 151 eggs were laid.^[1] This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ...

Young centipedes have four pairs of legs when they are hatched. They gain a new pair with the first molting, and two pairs with every subsequent molting.^[2] They live anywhere from three to seven years, depending on the environment. Ecdysis is the molting of the cuticula in arthropods and related groups (Ecdysozoa). ...

Outdoors, house centipedes prefer to live in cool, damp places. Most live outside, primarily under large rocks, piles of wood and especially in compost piles. Within the home, these centipedes are found in almost any part of the house; most commonly, they are encountered in basements, bathrooms and lavatories, where there is a lot more water, but they can also be found in dry places like offices, bedrooms and dining rooms. The greatest likelihood of encountering them is in spring, when they come out because the weather gets warmer, and in fall, when the cooling weather forces them to find shelter in human habitats.

S. coleoptrata is indigenous to the Mediterranean region, but it has spread through much of Europe, Asia, and North America. In the United States, it has spread from the southern states and Mexico. It reached Pennsylvania in 1849, New York in 1885, and Massachusetts about 1890, and it now extends westward to the California coast and reaches north into Canada (Lewis 1981). In South Africa, they have been found in Gordon's Bay near Cape Town. In Japan, these creatures are referred to as gejigeji ^[3] and enjoy a level of popularity. They can often be seen for sale in pet stores. This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... North American redirects here. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Year 1849 (MDCCCXLIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the state. ... Year 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Year 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For other uses, see Coast (disambiguation). ... Gordons Bay is a harbour town in the Western Cape province of South Africa, close to Strand. ... Nickname: Motto: Spes Bona (Latin for Good Hope) Location of the City of Cape Town in Western Cape Province Coordinates: , Country Province Municipality City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality Founded 1652 Government [1]  - Type City council  - Mayor Helen Zille  - City manager Achmat Ebrahim Area  - Total 2,499 km² (964. ...

They have also been found in eastern and south-eastern Australia, from Sydney to Tasmania as well as in New Zealand. This article is about the metropolitan area in Australia. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product...

Interaction with humans

Unlike its shorter-legged but much larger tropical cousins, the house centipede can live its entire life inside a building. Because they eat household pests, house centipedes are considered among the most beneficial creatures that inhabit human dwellings, but because of their alarming appearance, frightening speed, and painful bite, few homeowners are willing to share a home with them.

Most house centipedes are incapable of penetrating human skin with a bite or a sting. Those that can, give an effect no worse than a minor bee sting.^[2] The symptoms generally disappear within a few hours. However, the bite can cause health problems for those few who are allergic to the mild venom of its bite, which is similar to that of most normal centipedes. It is possible in some cases that a rash may develop and many minuscule bumps can form, an allergic reaction which might be comparable to a bee sting, in terms of pain, or simply itchy, as with a mosquito bite. The house centipede's venom is too weak to cause any serious harm to larger pets such as cats and dogs.

In the case of an allergic reaction to the centipede's venom, an extremely painful, swollen lump may appear; such a lump may last a long time, even permanently.^{[citation needed]} Pus and bruising around the bite along with the tightening of skin can be expected from an adverse reaction.^{[citation needed]} Techniques for eliminating centipedes from the home include drying up the areas where they thrive, eliminating large indoor insect populations, sealing cracks in the walls, and seeking the assistance of an exterminator. A crop duster applies low-insecticide bait that is targeted against Western corn rootworms Pest control refers to the regulation or management of another species defined as a pest, usually because it is believed to be detrimental to a persons health, the ecology or the economy Pest control is...

References

• Cloudsley-Thompson, J. L. 1968. Spiders, scorpions, centipedes and mites. Pergamon Press, Oxford. 278 pages.
• Mitton, Jeff. "Legs for stinging, legs for snaring". Daily Camera. November 17, 2006.
• Harvard University fact sheet on house centipedes

17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Wikispecies has information related to:

Scutigeridae

• Extreme close-up showing eyes from Adrian Lozinski's Photography website
• University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web fact sheet on centipedes
• High-resolution pictures of a house centipede
• Scutigera Control Information (from "SCHRIS" personal website)