Centipedes
Centipedes and millipedes are not insects because they have more than 6 legs, but they are
closely related invertebrates. When outdoors, these invertebrates are innocuous organisms,
but they may be considered pests when they share living space with us.
Both of these groups
of invertebrates have long, segmented bodies with either 1 pair (centipedes) or 2 pairs
(millipedes) of legs on each segment. Their food preferences vary greatly.
Centipedes have a pair of poison claws behind the head and use the poison to paralyze their
prey, usually small insects. However, the jaws of centipedes are weak and can rarely penetrate
human skin. The rare individuals who are bitten may experience localized swelling and pain
no worse than a bee sting.
House centipede
The house centipede is found throughout the United States. This centipede can
be found outside under stones, boards, or sticks or beneath moist leaf litter and other
organic matter. When disturbed, centipedes move swiftly toward darkened hiding places. When
they
are found in homes, they are often found in moist basements, damp closets and in bathrooms.
Centipedes
require moist habitats. If they are plentiful, there may be an underlying moisture problem
that should be corrected.
