Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Centipedes (Chilopoda) » House Centipedes (Scutigeromorpha)

Order Scutigeromorpha - House Centipedes

Leggy lady - Scutigera coleoptrata WBC Scutigeromorph - Scutigera Stunning Bug - Scutigera Scutigera coleoptrata - House Centipede - Scutigera coleoptrata - male House centipede - Scutigera coleoptrata? - Scutigera coleoptrata This guy was grawling around on my wall in the basement of my home. I think it is a house centipede...But I thought the pic show - Scutigera coleoptrata Unknown Help, Please - Scutigera coleoptrata house centipede - Scutigera coleoptrata
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Chilopoda (Centipedes)
Order Scutigeromorpha (House Centipedes)
Identification
15 pairs of long legs, a rounded head and large eyes. Juveniles have fewer pairs of legs.
Food
flies and other insects.
Remarks
Commonly found in houses.
Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 16 February, 2004 - 12:31pm
Additional contributions by Lynette
Last updated 23 November, 2007 - 10:05am

House centipedes
These have become fairly common here in southern Ontario.
I have found diatomaceous earth effective in reducing their numbers in the house (if that's what you would like! I understand they eat other less-desirable pests...)
… dlee7077497, 4 August, 2006 - 9:45pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2010 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.