House+Centipede

Figure 1: The house centipede, //Scutigera coleoptrata//. Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Chilopoda Order: Scutigeromorpha Family: Scutigeridae Genus: //Scutigera// Species: //S. coleoptrata//  The house centipede can be a common sight in Vermont. As the name suggests, they are generally found in buildings, though they can also be found outside in caves, under logs, and other dark, damp areas. Due their appearance and speed, they can cause quite a scare for homeowners. Thought to originally come from the Mediterranean, this species was introduced into Mexico and has since spread across North America.
 * //Scutigera coleoptrata //**
 * Taxonomy: **

 The adult house centipede has 15 pairs of long, thin legs with barbs on the end. Young centipedes are born with 4 pairs, and gradually grow more legs as they age. In females, the last pair of legs is extremely long, with each leg being longer than the body. This last pair can be used as a second pair of antennae, which helps the centipede sense both predators and prey more easily. The actual antennae are also extremely long, suggesting that the house centipede has very good sensory abilities. They are generally yellow or brown in color, and are roughly an inch long (Though females can appear much longer due to their legs). They have a single pair of large, well-developed eyes. These eyes are compound, and appear to be able to detect ultraviolet light. The purpose of this may be to alert a centipede when it is in the open during the day, allowing it to quickly find cover. Figure 2: Adult house centipede. Note the long antennae and last pair of legs.
 * Physical Description: **

 House centipedes are efficient predators. They are highly specialized for hunting; their advanced compound eyes, long antennae, and specialized back legs help them to quickly locate prey, and their long legs allow them to sprint at high speed, allowing them to ambush prey. They attack and grab their target with their barbed legs, ensuring the prey can’t get away, before delivering a venomous sting to kill it. Lab tests have shown that they will attack a wide variety of prey, including woodlice, flies, small spiders, bees and wasps, and in some cases other house centipedes. Due to their enhanced sensory abilities, they can even find and attack airborne prey. House centipedes also seem to be able to recognize if their prey is dangerous; when observed attacking a bee, the centipede would bite the bee and then retreat until it had stopped moving, suggesting it was waiting for the venom to kill it to avoid a possible sting.
 * Ecology: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> House centipedes are generally considered a pest species by homeowners. Many people are quite scared of them due to their abnormal appearance. However, they are practically harmless to humans. While their venom can hurt, their bite is rarely strong enough to pierce skin. Even so, the bite is rarely worse than a bee sting. In addition, they are very timid animals, preferring to run than to fight and defend themselves. Due to their preference for dark, damp environments, they rarely come out in the open, though bathrooms can be a common area for them. Despite being considered a pest species, house centipedes can actually be helpful. Much like spiders, they can lower the amount of other pests in the house.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Impact on Humans: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">References

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Leatherman, David. 2012. //Scutigera//, the house centipede. Colorado Birds, 46:313-316.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Lewis. J. G. E. The Biology of Centipedes. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Meyer-Rochow, V. B., C. H. G. Müller, and M. Lindström. 2006. Spectral sensitivity of the eye of //Scutigera coleoptrata// (Linnaeus, 1758) (Chilopoda: Scutigeromorpha: Scutigeridae). Applied Entomology and Zoology, 41:117-142.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Müller, C. H. G., and J. Rosenberg. 2003. The compound eye //of Scutigera coleoptrata// (Linnaeus, 1758) (Chilopoda: Notostigmophora): an ultrastructural reinvestigation that adds support to the Mandibulata concept. Zoomorpholoy, 122:191-209.

Sombke, A., S. Harzsch, and B. S. Hanson. 2010. Organization of deutocerebral neuropils and olfactory behavior in the centipede //Scutigera coleoptrata// (Linnaeus, 1758) (Myriapoda:Chilopoda)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Figure 1: []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Figure 2: []