What is this?
Location: Inside a house in Atlanta, GA
December 4, 2011 11:44 am
My wife totally freaked out when she saw this crawling up the wall Sunday Dec 3 in Atlanta, GA. She asked me to catch it and then release it outside. It moved at a great speed, but I was able to get it into a box. But before I got it outside it must have jumped out of the box. Definitely NOT an insect, spider, milli or centipede,
Signature: David JR
House Centipede
Dear David,
We want to begin by apologizing for the delay in our response, but we are using some free time during the holidays to catch up on unanswered mail and posting the best letters we find. We also want to commend your wife for suggesting that you catch and release this creature, and commend you for humoring her request and preserving harmony in the home, and we want to acknowledge this commendation by tagging you both as Bug Humanitarians. Though your letter indicates that this is definitely NOT a centipede, you are incorrect. This is a House Centipede, a shy nocturnal hunter that will help to keep undesirable creatures like Cockroaches from infesting your home. It does not look like most Centipedes because of its longer legs, but it is a true Centipede. We have maintained for years that this is a harmless species, and though it is possible that it might bite a person if it is carelessly handled, the greatest harm it seems to do on a regular basis is to startle folks with its rapid movements. Though you were unsuccessful in removing this House Centipede from the home, you can rest assured that it will continue to prey on undesirable creatures while hopefully passing unnoticed by hiding during the day.
I never did slow down and say thank you for taking the time to send me a reply. I was able to send a picture to my biology instructor and he also said it was a centipede. I guess I had just never saw one before, that is why I was so sure it wasn’t one . . . So after he said that was what it was, I googled “centipede” and sure enough, the pictures and descriptions of centipedes on the websites I found matched exactly.
Anyhow, again thank you for taking the time to answer my inquiry.
David JR
Atlanta, GA
1
Can you tell me what this is?
Location: Eastern Pennsylvania
November 24, 2011 8:50 pm
I get these in my apartment occasionally. I was just wondering what they are.
Thank you.
Signature: any
House Centipede
Dear any,
This is a beneficial, predatory House Centipede, a nocturnal hunter that will help keep your apartment free of cockroaches and other undesirable intruders. The House Centipede is one of our most frequent identification requests as well as a frequent victim of Unnecessary Carnage.
1
Namibian arthropods
Location: Namibia (see above)
November 15, 2011 12:44 pm
Can you please name these.All pictures were taken in April 2011 in Namibia.
The cricket was taken in the Etendeke Mountain camp close to Palmwag. The other 2 images were taken at Durstenbruck farm north of Windhoek.
Signature: Roger Pinkney
Unknown Centipede
Hi Roger,
Though we don’t know what species this is, this Tropical Centipede is one of the most beautiful Centipedes we have ever seen. We will try to determine the species. Tropical Centipedes in the genus Scolopendra are found in many places around the world.
1
Centipede ID
Location: Canada de Pala Trail, Joseph D. Grant Park, San Jose, CA
November 2, 2011 2:42 pm
Dear Bugman,
I found this colorful centipede on the trail in Joseph D. Grant Park, San Jose, CA, November 1, 2011, elevation 2,600’ in the late afternoon. It is about 4 inches long. I took a photo of it and didn’t touch it, as I didn’t want to alarm it. It was solitary. Is it a Scolopendra polymorpha? It had turqouise green and orange coloring. A lovely thing.
Signature: Holly
Centipede
Hi Holly,
Congratulations on your excellent job of identification. We agree that this is most likely Scolopendra polymorpha based on photos posted to BugGuide. You were wise not to touch it as they are capable of biting.
Hello Daniel,
Thank you for your speedy and helpful reply. I’m glad I didn’t touch it. 
I have never seen a centipede before, it felt like a mega-fauna sighting – surprising to see on the trail in grasslands.
All the Best,
Holly
1
Flat Orange on Oak wood
Location: Grass Valley, CA
November 1, 2011 6:46 pm
We have these all over the oak wood outside our home. I have not been able to find out what it is. They only seem to be on the oak that is on the ground.
Signature: Brandi Minium
Millipedes
Hi Brandi,
These are Millipedes that feed on decaying organic matter and possibly the fungus that grows on decaying wood. We believe we have identified them as Brachycybe rosea based on BugGuide.
30 legs of ”what the heck” in my room
Location: Peruvian rain forest ( within 25 miles of 12° 36′ 0″ S, 69° 11′ 0″ W)
October 30, 2011 10:35 pm
On vacation this summer, i spent time in the Peruvian rain forest. We slept in an abandoned schoolhouse, and i found this little creature hiding in my room. I took this picture late July/early August
Signature: Adam Protter
House Centipede
Dear Adam,
This is a House Centipede, a beneficial nocturnal predator that is perfectly comfortable cohabitating with humans and feeding off the other nocturnal arthropod residents like Cockroaches. For years we have been claiming that House Centipedes are perfectly harmless, though larger individuals may be capable of biting and Centipedes do have venom. The venom of a House Centipede is not considered to be harmful to humans, and we also maintain that bites from House Centipedes are extremely rare.
26 legged insect
Location: Blue Ridge, Virginia
October 16, 2011 10:13 pm
Hello, I have seen this bug around my house for a few months now and have no idea what it is! I live in Charlottesville, Virginia and have seen this bug since the mid summer. Oddly, while in Italy during the summer I am sure I saw one of these insects. Please help.
Signature: Gabriel
House Centipede
I have realized after looking through your Top Ten list that this is a House Centipede. Though I now know they are harmless, I can’t help but find them creepy after the one that ran at me when it noticed me. I hope you like the pictures!
Gabriel
House Centipede
Hi Gabriel,
Your very detailed photos are a wonderful addition to our website. We are very happy to learn that you were able to self identify this House Centipede. There is some indication that they might bite a person if provoked, but their venom is not highly toxic and will cause little more than irritation in most people, however, with severe allergic reactions on the rise from everything, including peanuts and pain relievers, we cannot predict what might happen if a particularly sensitive person happens to get bitten. For the record, Centipedes are not insects. Insects have but six legs.
House Centipede
Location: Portland, OR
August 21, 2011 1:52 am
Heya,
I know this is a house centipede, but I am curious if I should avoid picking them up? I realize they are ”harmless” in the sense that their venom is very mild, but is it recommended to use a cup rather than hands to gently place them outside? Love the site, btw.
Signature: J
House Centipede
Hi J,
Thank you for submitting your question. Our favorite way to remove potentially stinging or biting insects from the home is printed in Daniel’s book, The Curious World of Bugs. Trap the creature in an inverted martini glass and then slip a postcard between the opening of the glass and the home surface. The creature can then be safely relocated. For years we have been claiming that House Centipedes are perfectly harmless, but we concede that they might bite if handled. More detrimental to the House Centipede would be losing some legs due to careless handling. The martini glass method ensures that both the House Centipede and the Bug Humanitarian (yes you were tagged because of your question) will remain safe.
1
rss
I like This
