Big Pacific NW Centipede - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#79191

Copyright © 2006 Cheryl Moorehead

Big Pacific NW Centipede

Seattle, King County, Washington, USA
September 23, 2006
Size: approx 27mm

This is the first photo I took after my brother was kind enough to lift a large container on our patio. It shows 2 centipedes with some sowbugs for scale (I made my measurements based on the sowbugs, so it is only an approximation). I'm showing both in this submission because they were found at the same time, and are the same species. (I will add what I think the species is, when I can find my darn book--Plants and Animals of the Pacific Northwest) (1). It has a good section on some of the non-insect invertebrates in this area.

Images of this individual: tag all

Big Pacific NW Centipede

Big Pacific NW Centipede

Big Pacific NW Centipede

Contributed by Cheryl Moorehead on 24 September, 2006 - 1:35pm
Last updated 8 November, 2006 - 7:23pm

Order Lithobiomorpha; I don't

Order Lithobiomorpha; I don't know genus & species.

… Rowland Shelley, 8 March, 2007 - 7:35am

I was wrong, again...

Well, I found my book (Plants & Animals of the Pacific Northwest)(1). It is (I am sure!), a type of European Centipede, Lithobius forficatus. It reaches a length of 3cm. "It hides under boards, bricks, flowerpots, and the like."

… Cheryl Moorehead, 26 September, 2006 - 9:47pm

Which measurement is correct?

If the European centipede only reaches 3 cm (30 mm) then either 55 mm is incorrect, or European Centipede is not the correct ID.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 8 November, 2006 - 6:06pm

I'm sorry, I meant to correct

These specimens were 27 or 28mm in actuality.
The large native centipedes in my area are differently colored and found in forest settings, from what I've read.

… Cheryl Moorehead, 8 November, 2006 - 7:21pm

Wrong size noted

I "upped the measurement" because on actually looking at a metric ruler, I realized that I was way off. I truly believe that this is an average size for these guys.

They are really fast, too!

… Cheryl Moorehead, 25 September, 2006 - 12:20pm

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