House centipede
(Redirected from Scutigera coleoptrata)
The house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is a yellowish grey centipede having up to 15 pairs of legs.
House centipede | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | Scutigeromorpha
|
Family: | Scutigeridae
|
Genus: | Scutigera
|
Binomial name | |
Scutigera coleoptrata |
The species are found all across the world and live in human apartments or houses. The house centipede is an insectivore; it kills and eats arachnids and insects. They were first discovered around 1758. These centipedes are harmless to humans, although humans may be startled by them. It is a nocturnal animal.
House centipedes live from three to seven years, depending on the environment. They can start breeding in their third year.
They are among the fastest artropods: they can reach speeds of up to 420mm/s, which is about 1.5km/h.