Centipede Identification

Centipedes are yellowish to dark brown. They range in size from 1/8" to 6 inches in length. The body is flattened with 15 to 177 body segments with one pair of legs each. House centipedes are grey-yellow with three stripes down the back and very long legs banded with white.

 

Centipede Habitat

Centipedes are found outdoors in situations where there is moisture and decaying organic matter. They are common under trash, grass clippings, mulch, rotting firewood, etc. They can invade homes and other structures. Centipedes can also live indoors and like to live in damp environments.

 

Centipede Life Cycle

Centipede reproduction does not involve copulation. Males deposit a spermathophore for the female to take up. In one clade, this spermatophore is deposited in a web, and the male undertakes a courtship dance to encourage the female to engulf his sperm. In other cases, the males just leave them for the females to find.

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