Michigan State University Extension
Home Maintenance And Repair - 01500552
06/24/03
House centipede
The house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, is a
native of Mexico which also currently occurs throughout
much of the United States, including Michigan. Unlike
other centipedes, this species is capable of reproducing
indoors, and in the cooler regions occurs exclusively
indoors. They favor houses with crawl spaces or damp
basements.
The house centipede is quite distinctive in
appearance. It is 1 to 1.75 inch long with 15 pairs of
long, slender legs (however, various immature stages may
have 5 to 13 pairs of legs). The head bears a pair of
long antennae and compound eyes. The grayish-yellow body
has three dorsal longitudinal stripes and the legs are
banded with white.
The house centipede is very agile. They run rapidly
with the aid of their long legs, often stopping suddenly
and remaining motionless. They prey upon many species of
insects, spiders and other invertebrate animals,
paralyzing them with a pair of special "poison jaws"
located on the underside of the body immediately behind
the head. They are readily capable of detaching their
legs if grabbed by a prospective prey or other enemy.
There are a few reports of this species biting man,
causing a localized pain no more severe than a bee sting.
The wound should be cleaned to prevent secondary
infection and ice can be applied to reduce swelling. The
centipedes are most likely to bite if handled or stepped
on.
If you choose to use an insecticide out of doors,
apply diazinon 25% EC on foundation walls, under eaves
and other areas where they gather. Do not use diazinon
inside the household. Indoors, ready to use formulations
of chlorpyrifo or propoxur is suggested.
For a complete listing of suggested control options
for all home, yard and garden insect pests contact your
local Extension Service, found under local government in
the phone book.
Read and follow instructions on the pesticide label.
Heed all warnings. Check with your physician if you have
any concerns regarding your personal health risk.
Revised by Tom Ellis, M.S., Department of Entomology
This information is for educational purposes only. References
to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not
mentioned. This information becomes public property upon
publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU
Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise
a commercial product or company.
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Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in
cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thomas G. Coon, Director,
MSU Extension, East Lansing,MI 48824. This information is for educational
purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply
endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
This file was generated from data base 02 on 02/04/08.
Data base 02 was last revised on 06/24/03.
For more information about this data base or its contents please contact
strausc@msu.edu .