Page 8 - BRN April 2021

There are barbs at the ends of the legs of this species. The barbs enable the centipede to hold its prey. These barbs, and the centipede’s faceted eyes, make the House centipede a very effective hunter. Their well developed eyes set them apart from most other centipede species.
House Centipedes modify their hunting behavior based on the prey they encounter. When a wasp is attacked, for instance, the centipede will inject the venom and then back off and wait.
It you have these critters in your house, the best way to rid yourself of them is to get rid of their prey.
The House Centipede is fairly long lived, as long as seven years. They reach sexual maturity in the third year. The mating process is similar to many other species. Male and female approach each other, antennas touch, the male lays its sperm on the ground and then the female uses the sperm to fertilize the eggs.
A female will lay scores of eggs: as many as 151 have been recorded. When the young hatch they will only have four pairs of legs. As they mature and increase in length, they develop more legs with each molt. An adult will have 15 pairs of legs. Their long legs, overall shape, and coloration make this species fairly easy to identify. Note also the three dark lines which run the length of the body and the color-banded legs.
Scutigera coleoptrata is a small creature, usually only an inch and a third in length. It is fast, capable of traveling more than a foot a second. Its size and speed are two reasons that they are seldom seen.
Note the hind legs, which look like antennae. This characteristic is a type of automimicry and is assumed to have developed to confuse potential predators about which end is which.
House Centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, Hillsboro, New Mexico , during early September.
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