Centipede
Scientific Name: Chilopoda
Category: insect
Brief Description
A long, segmented predatory arthropod with one pair of legs per body segment, typically found crawling on soil or under debris.
Characteristics
Elongated, flattened body divided into numerous segments, each bearing a single pair of legs. They feature long antennae and modified front legs (forciputes) that act as venomous claws for subduing prey.
Habitat
Damp environments such as under logs, stones, leaf litter, and in topsoil.
When to Find It
Most active during spring and summer, and primarily nocturnal.
Conservation Status
N/A
Ecological Role
Act as important carnivorous predators that help control populations of insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates.
Easily Confused With
Millipedes, which have two pairs of legs per body segment and are generally slower-moving detritivores.
Observation Tips
Look under moist rocks, logs, and garden mulch, especially at night using a flashlight.
Interesting Facts
Despite their name meaning 'hundred-legged', centipedes can have anywhere from 15 to over 300 pairs of legs, and the number of leg pairs is always odd.