Centipedes

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Scientific name:  Chilopoda

Size:  From approx 30mm to 80mm depending on the species

Distribution:  Found in most parts of the UK

Months seen:  All year round

Habitat:  Mostly in damp, shaded locations such as leaf litter, under logs, rotting tree stumps and sometimes in soil

Food:  Invertebrates such as worms and insect larvae

Special features:  Centipedes are elongated, flattened invertebrates with multi-segmented bodies.  Each segment of the body has one pair of legs (millipedes have two pairs of legs on each body segment).  Compared to millipedes they are also quite fast moving.  They are equipped with venemous fangs which they use to catch and kill other invertebrates.  The centipedes found in the UK are harmless to humans.

Common Centipedes (Lithobius forficatus) grow to around 30mm in length and have 15 pairs of legs.  The back two pairs are extra long and are used to feel their way around, as are the long antennae.

These creatures hunt at night, but can often be found hiding under bark or in rotting wood during the daytime.

The Luminous Centipede (Geophilus carpophagus) appears quite dull in colour (see photo), but at night it gives off a phosphorescent light, similar to the glow-worm.  Unlike the Common Centipede this species does have more than 100 legs.

Related Pages

• Invertebrate Section
• Identify other wildlife
• What's Out Now?