Kinds of Centipedes

Scolopendrid Centipedes

• Scolopendrid centipedes belong to the order Scolopendromorpha. Their bodies are flat and wide and typically less than 4 inches long. The largest scolopendrid centipede, the Scolopendra gigantea, lives in the tropics of South America and can grow up to 12 inches long. Scolopendrid centipedes may have eyes, but most of them are blind. They are often very colorful and can have multi-colored bodies or bodies that are yellow, orange, pink, red, green or blue. Their bodies have 21 pairs of legs.

Earth Centipedes

• The earth or soil centipedes, of the order Geophilomorpha, lack eyesight and have more legs than any other type of centipede. Distributed nearly worldwide, these centipedes are known for having between 27 and 191 pairs of short legs. Earth centipedes are long and slender, and some grow up to 6 ½ inches long. Body colors of earth centipedes range from reddish-brown to pale yellow. As burrowers, these centipedes like to crawl in the soil and decayed timber and under the bark of fallen leaves.

House Centipedes

• House centipedes belong to the order Scutigeromorpha. This type of centipede has 15 pairs of long legs and can grow up to 2 3/4 inches long. House centipedes have a pair of long, thin antennae and two eyes that are bigger than other centipedes' eyes. Their bodies are typically a grayish-yellow color and marked with three dark stripes. Although native to the Mediterranean, house centipedes are now found in many homes in the United States. They inhabit dark and damp areas of houses and come out at night to seek other arthropods to eat.

Stone Centipedes

• The order Lithobiomorpha contains the stone centipedes, or stone dwellers. Stone centipedes have small, compact bodies that are reddish-brown and can grow up to 1 3/4 inches long. Like house centipedes, they have 15 pairs of legs, but the legs of stone centipedes are typically shorter. Stone centipedes have poor vision, so they use their sense of touch to seek out prey. You are more likely to find them in a garden or under leaves, mulch, stones, or bark than inside your house. Stone centipedes live in temperate regions of the southern and northern hemispheres.

Craterostigmus Centipedes

• Craterostigmus centipedes, of the order Craterostigmomorpha, are restricted to New Zealand and the moist forests of Tasmania. In New Zealand, the centipedes are found in forest habitats on the South Island. The New Zealand Craterostigmus centipede is distinguished by its greenish-brown body and large, red-brown head. Craterostigmus centipedes possess 15 pairs of legs and grow up to 2 inches long. Large forcipules, or modified legs that end in long poisonous claws, extend past the centipede's head. The centipede uses these claws to catch its prey.