Household Pests: The Thousand Legger

One of the most common house pests is what has become to be known as the 'Thousand Legger'. Properly known as centipedes, arthopods (insects with an hard exterior), or myriapods (latin for 'lots of feet'). There are over 8000 different species of centipedes and they are usually tan, brown, or red in color. Household centipedes usually only grow to be one to two inches long, however, there are some species in the desert and the Amazon that grow to be up to 12 inches long! They have segmented bodies, with a skeletal structure on the outside, and one pair of legs for each segment usually only having 30 to 70 legs total (sometimes they can have up to 100 legs).

Usually in the winter centipedes will hide themselves in a moist place and not come out until spring. The female of the species will lay eggs in the spring or summer hiding them within damp soil. Some species are born with a complete set of legs and body segments while others add them as they grow. It takes two to three years for a Centipede to mature, however, they have been known to live for six years.

Centipedes are generally found in damp and dark places, usually outside. For example, they can be found underneath your mulch, stones, or branches. Household centipedes are found usually in basements, bathrooms, or kitchens; but can be found anywhere insects incur, such as in closets and attics.

They usually hide during the day within cracks or crevices and come out at night to hunt for food when the temperature is cooler and more humid. Centipedes are beneficial to homeowners, who usually kill them on sight, they tend to eat other arthopods such as cockroaches and spiders, as well as moths and houseflies. The Giant Desert Centipede (grows up to 9 inches long), feasts upon small lizards, rodents, and toads! While the Amazonian Centipede(grows up to 12 inches long) eats spiders, bats, and rodents.

Because of their poor eyesight they use their superior sense of smell and touch to run towards their prey. Two venom filled pinchers are at the tip of the centipedes head, helps them to weaken the victim. Some species of centipedes even produce silk, like that of a spider and use that to hold their prey as well. Larger centipedes can inflict a bite that may cause pain, swelling, discoloration, and numbness, though it is not detrimental to your health. They will not bite unless provoked.

Use this information to help you decide the next time you see a thousand legger whether or not you will condemn it to death!

www.ipm.ucdmis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pu7422.html

http://backyardnature.net/1000legs.htm

www.wisegeek.com/what-are-centipedes.htm