House Centipede - Scutigera coleoptrata

House centipede

I had one of these on the wall of an open, army style tent at a boy scout camp in Mentone, Al. I had never seen one of these before. It looks like something from outer space or a late night horror movie. It disappeared into the crack of the slat floor. Needless to say, I didn't sleep in that tent. I took a picture of it before it scurried off. I showed the picture to a family member who has seen them often at Civil War reenactments in GA. A friend of his was bitten in an uncomfortable place by one of these and it made a bad sore requiring an emergency doctor's visit.

… michelereavis, 8 September, 2008 - 1:56pm

While I won't tell you that y

While I won't tell you that your friend is mistaken about being bitten, I will say that these centipedes will rarely try and bite a person. The front pair of legs for this creature have been modified into the "fangs" they use to capture food or for defense. These fangs cannot easily penetrate human skin. However, if your friend had a soft area exposed, was bitten, and required treatment he may have had an allegic reaction as successful bites are usually no more serious than a honey bee sting.

… Brian Kinn, 4 November, 2008 - 1:27pm

Chiling

Yep, they are a nasty looking thing. Boy Hollywood has missed the boat not making a horror movie with these things in it. But again, it might just be too scary!
There are lots of these guys here in GA and they are benificial. But when you go outside at night and see one clinging to the wall next to the door, it makes your skin crawl and send shivers up and down your spine.

… Jerry Armstrong, 8 September, 2008 - 7:13pm

looks

Part of the reason they look so different is that they capture their prey by speed and ambush. They need to be fast runners, and they are. These centipedes can run faster than other centipedes. They have short bodies and their back legs are longer than their front legs so that when running the back legs can cross over the front legs without getting in the direct path. This mechanism allows this Chilapoda run faster than other centipedes. It really is a remarkable Arthropod.

… Brian Kinn, 4 November, 2008 - 1:34pm