House Centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata)

Order: Scutigeromorpha Family: Scutigeridae Genus: Scutigera Species: coleoptrata Profile: 6 positives 5 neutrals 3 negatives Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: , (2 reports) Fremont, California Los Angeles, California Monrovia, California Redding, California Denver, Colorado Trinidad, Colorado Meriden, Connecticut Washington, District Of Columbia Lake Forest, Illinois Niles, Illinois Jeffersonville, Indiana Thorntown, Indiana Chelmsford, Massachusetts Marlborough, Massachusetts Somerville, Massachusetts Algonac, Michigan Chesterfield, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri Saint Louis, Missouri Highlands, New Jersey Newton, New Jersey Larchmont, New York Syracuse, New York Bucyrus, Ohio Columbus, Ohio Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Zanesville, Ohio Cornwall, Pennsylvania Pottstown, Pennsylvania Reading, Pennsylvania Knoxville, Tennessee Frisco, Texas Salt Lake City, Utah East Ryegate, Vermont Arlington, Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Milwaukee, Wisconsin Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Neutral claypa On Sep 25, 2006, claypa from West Pottsgrove, PA (Zone 6b) wrote: The order Scutigeromorpha are the only centipedes with compound eyes. They eat other insects and live above ground (except basements). They have 15 pairs of legs. Their vision and long legs allow them to escape predators more easily than other centipedes. Negative fishhead01 On Oct 8, 2006, fishhead01 from Highlands, NJ wrote: We live in an old house with the kitchen in the basement. These centipedes breed behind the sink and are very fast moving. They are not pleasant to live with. Neutral RockabillyKitty On Apr 24, 2007, RockabillyKitty from Denver, CO (Zone 5b) wrote: We live in a three story home with a basement. I have seen this creature in our basement and on the first floor. I hope that's as high as they venture, as our bedroom is on the second floor. *shudder* I have also seen these things in the yard, but they're usually much smaller than the specimens I've seen indoors. They are beneficial in that they hunt spiders and other pests - but they can inflict a bite, from what I understand, that is similar to a bee sting. I don't plan on finding out if this is true. In my life I've been stung by a scorpion and a velvet ant - and that's enough, thank you. I grew up in eastern Oklahoma - so I'm just thankful that they're much, much smaller than their orange-legged cousins. Now THOSE are scary. Neutral cvirtue On May 29, 2007, cvirtue from Chelmsford, MA wrote: These guys eat silverfish, so I do my best to not stomp them to death, which I would otherwise do. Negative jones101 On Jun 5, 2007, jones101 from Syracuse, NY (Zone 5a) wrote: I live in Central N.Y. and I have seen 3 of these creepy squiggly things in the past 2 yrs.... They do move real fast and I don't like them at all. I picked up a spong to find one almost creeping up my hand... Positive ilovemyplants On Jun 11, 2007, ilovemyplants from Meriden, CT wrote: These centipedes are very good to have around & since they are around our human dwellings that means we have some pesky unwanted bugs around that they want to eat & are harmless to humans aswell... Positive centistalker On Jun 23, 2007, centistalker from W Hartford, CT wrote: I collect em all, from chilopoda's to Tachypodoiulus nigers....well I'm just starting sort of b/c i just caught one under my couch and it sits in a jar waitin for my chilluns for when they arrive tomorrow after sunrise. I don't know what to feed it, jest home they aren't partial to folks... One saved my life one day back in Nam, but i don't wanna talk about it... gave up one of his 14 pair of legs for me and now it's him that's got the handicap pass and not me... guess i owe somethin to that little feller... Positive Jonny_Test On Aug 11, 2007, Jonny_Test from Monrovia, CA wrote: I love these guys! They can take a Black Widow, hold it at arm's length (really long for them), turn it around, and then bite it! My family call's them "cootie bugs". Usually only 2" long, biggest one was in the garage, 3-4" with legs, and could run so fast it almost blurred. Negative JenT On May 19, 2008, JenT from Columbus, OH wrote: I don't frankly care if these horrid suckers have the cure for cancer and world peace all in one. I do not want them in my house! They make me want to wig out. Yuk. Neutral jakeman On Jul 4, 2008, jakeman from Newton, NJ wrote: This bug is about 7 inches long a bunch of legs and very fast unlike most centipedes. And it is very scary. i have never seen a bug like this. Neutral Andyquasar On Aug 25, 2008, Andyquasar from Montreal, Quebec Canada wrote: My cat was chassing that bug in my house and i saw it, really fast bugger, i was able to catch it. Weird thing since its not usually in Canada Positive rwielgosz On Nov 27, 2008, rwielgosz from Washington, DC (Zone 6b) wrote: My grandfather used to call these "snalagasters". He was from southern Illinois. I've heard they're good to have in your house, as they're predators of other arthropods. Also, they don't leave webs or make noise, unlike other bug predators. They make a great cat toy because they run fast, but they're not cautious. The cats like to eat them, too. Positive Petal33 On Jun 22, 2009, Petal33 from Kingston, ON (Zone 5b) wrote: My house is very old ,I have alot of these bugs in the basement but my cat likes to bring them up stairs and play with them -then eat them> Yes I know they give me the creeps too but they are a good, I guess. Positive redcolumbine On Oct 16, 2009, redcolumbine from Somerville, MA wrote: I live in a basement apartment, and I consider these guys employees. Their job is to find and collect their pay - ant eggs. I think ants are a huge nuisance, and I hate having to use poisons to get rid of them, so being startled out of my socks by the occasional scooter is a small price to pay for an ant-free apartment. Sure, they move fast, and all those legs make them look enormous - but they're totally harmless, and given that I managed to scare one to death once (turned on the shower without looking - it basically tied itself in a knot and disintegrated) I can't really be afraid of them any more.

By Jonny_Test By edcarlson By Batbucket By djwildman By djwildman By RoxieDog By alexisrey