Indonesian Centipede
(12/26/2005) centipedes
hello there ! great website u have there..attached a pic for you. no problem ,this is an indonesian centipede.
regards
Dominic



Hi Dominic,
Great photo.

House Centipede
(11/15/2005) Monster in my bathtub!
I found this freaky creature in my tub on November 15th 2005. I live in Redlands, California which is located in the southern part of the state. It had tenticles out either end and has stripes going lengthwise down it's body. It had many legs, I'd say about 11 or 12 legs on each side. It was about 2 inches in length total from antenna to antenna. I think I have possibly seen relatives of this bug in my toilet when I've come home from vacation, but I could be wrong.
Christina Coffield



Hi Christina,
Somehow, we don't think your House Centipede died of natural causes. We do find the Disney ruler somewhat amusing.

House Centipede
(10/21/2005)
Hello -
Can you help identify this bug?  See attached pic.
Thanks,
Lisa



Hi Lisa,
This is a House Centipede, the subject of numerous questions on our site.

House Centipede: dead by unknown causes
(11/10/2005) Can You tell me is this ....... Hi 
My Name is Osiris and I live in NY and live in ah private home recently I have been spotting and killing ah type of bug of which I find very repulsive because it has  very long legs and 3 tails on both sides, I have found then in my basement near de boiler room and also in between doorways. I have killed about 6 of them and of which 4 were very big like about ah inch long and the rest were half inch non the les I found something similar to it called ah silver fish but as I see the pictures it does not exactly look like the ones in my house. I hope you can tell what kind of bug it is I took some pictures of it.



Hi Osiris,
House Centipedes are your friends. They will kill and eat Roaches.

House Centipede
(10/17/2005) House Centipede
Hey Bugman,
What a great site!  Google led me to you, where I was able to identify this wicked little "fast scurrier", as my 8-year-old daughter put it when she found him in her room.  Luckily she seems to be fascinated by him and is not worried that he scurried down the wall and onto her exact-same-color carpet and is living somewhere in her bedroom at this point.  He'll have lots of daddy-longlegs to eat around here and I hope he sticks around a bit. Never in my life have I seen anything like this, although I think these House Centipedes get the award for "most-photographed" on your site, so they're obviously fairly common.  We also have some pretty phenomenal pictures of preying mantids mating as well as the egg sacks hatching.  I'll send some pics on to you for your site when I can.  Thanx!
Joy Greene, and Callie, too



Hi Joy and Callie,
Thanks for the nice letter and a new photo of a House Centipede for our homepage.

Centipede
(10/16/2005) What the heck is this?
Hi there - after some screaming kids got my attention this morning I captured this into a jar and found your site via Google.  Centipede of some sort I suspect - we seem to have a number of these lately - maybe the cooler weather is pushing them inside? Live in Springfield, Missouri - as you can see this puppy is about 2 to 2 3/4 inches long.  The photo shows scale tick marks with overlay I did in Photoshop.  The picture was taken looking into a gerber baby food jar with macro mode on camera - kinda unique. If you place a bic pen between its tail - at least I think it's the tail, it will snap the pincers shut and you can feel the clamping force it exerts.  I'm not brave enough to try with my finger. So, what is it, besides a centipede and is it harmful at all? thank you - great site - we appreciate your efforts.
Steve Hargis
Springfield, MO



Hi Steve,
BugGuide just lists this as a tropical centipede in the Family Scolopendridae. Their example is from Georgia which is only slightly more tropical than Missouri. I grew up with similar ones in Ohio, but not as large. Centipedes do have poison, and it will cause discomfort. Sorry we can't be more specific.

Update: (01/20/2008) Two Centipedes
Regarding centipedes, that from Springfield MO is Theatops spinicaudus Wood, 1871 (order Scolopendromorpha: family Cryptopidae: subfamily Plutoniuminae).
Rowland Shelley
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences

Millipede: Exotic or Canadian???
(10/09/2005) Millipede Question
Dear Bugman,
I bought a tropical plant at Walmart today and when I was transplanting it to a pot we found this little millipede inside.  I looked on the net but couldn't find anything that looked like him/her.  Can you tell me what it is?  I live in Saskatchewan, Canada.  Is this native to Canada?  If not, should I release it? 
Thank you,
Andre Boutin-Maloney



Hi Andre,
What a lovely Millipede. We are not sure if it is exotic or Canadian. We do not recognize. We would not recommend releasing it until you are sure. Try a local Natural History Museum and we will try additional research on our end.

Hawaiian Centipede
(09/27/2005) what is this bug?
Hi,
I live in Hawaii and these are everywhere, including my house. But I see two kinds and I am wondering which this one is. So are my students. This one is record size.
Thanks so much
Alisha



Hi Alisha,
Beautiful photo of a Centipede. All we can say is it is a Tropical Centipede in the Order Scolopendromorpha. We can also say it is very impressive and wish you said exactly how large it is.

Update: (01/20/2008) Two Centipedes
Regarding centipedes, ... Also those from the Hawaiian Islands are Scolopendra subspinipes Leach, 1815, which was brought to the Hawaiian Islands by Polynesians in at least the early 1800s, as they were recorded from there in 1832 or so, at which time they were called the “ Sandwich Islands .” 
Rowland Shelley
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences

Flat Backed Millipedes
(09/19/2005) centipedes
Hello folks, I hope all is well.  On a hike at a local conservation   area I photographed this mass!  Is it centipede larva?  Take Care,   Janet from Dundas, Ontario



Hi Janet,
According to BugGuide, these Millipedes are in the order Polydesmida, the Flat Backed Millipedes. Sometimes the aggregate after rains.

Vegetarian House Centipede
(08/03/2005) Proof that House Centipedes like to also get a good dose of vegetables.



We can only guess your House Centipede has read Fast Food Nation. Seriously, maybe it is about the water supply.

Pill Millipede
(07/24/2005) Can you identify this....
I almost stepped on this (millipede?) this morning in West Virginia. I was visiting my brother-in-law and he said he had no clue what it was. It's shell was pretty hard (I tapped it with a stick) and I think it looks poisonous- Can you identify it for me? Thanks!
Jennifer in Ohio



Hi Jennifer,
BugGuide lists this Millipede as being in the order Polydesmida. According to Eric Eaton they secrete a cyanide compound.

Newest Winner in the House Centipede Photo Contest
(07/09/2005) Another Centipede
Can you ever have enough centipede pictures?  I wanted to provide a point of reference to this picture, but I was afraid of spooking the bug.  This critter was hanging out on my bedroom wall.  I estimate the main body length to be about 2." How about a contest for the best dead centipede?  Every now and then I come across a dead one in the basement.  They have a very unique way of dying!
Tom S,  Minneapolis



Hi Tom,
In the unlikely event that we would ever run a best dead House Centiped photo contest, we would have to limit it to a natural death since we do not condone the carnage. Barring that contest, we have decided to award you the Newest Best House Centipede Photo award.

Cicada Skin	House Centipede named Bob

Beautiful Centipede: Scolopendra heros
(06/28/2005)
Any ideas what type of centipede this is?  Is is harmful?  It was found in a garage in a subdivision about 20 miles south of Tucson, AZ.



I don't know your species but it is surely beautiful. If it bites, you will probably have minor irritation because of the poison fangs. Not serious though.

Ed. Note: WE just received this letter with an identification.
(08/11/2005) Centipede species ID
Hi,   Great site! The link was posted on an arachnid (mostly…couple subforums devoted to vertebrates, myriapods, and other insects) forum that I frequent (Arachnoboards). Spent about 20 minutes looking through the beetle pictures and found it instantly helpful for a beetle my gf found in our apartment a couple days ago (false bombardier beetle, I forget the scientific name…I’m better with tarantula/scorpion names).   Anyway, the main reason I’m sending you this email is that there is a picture of a centipede that you have listed as unidentified. Orangish-red body, yellow legs, black head and the submitter being from the desert southwest ( Arizona to be specific) it is a Scolopendra heros but I’m not sure on the subspecies. I wanted to say S. heros castaneiceps but the color pattern is almost reversed as they have a black body/tail with a red head, then again with centipedes and especially Scolopendras, color patterns aren’t the most reliable L Anyway, you should be safe to say it is a Scolopendra heros, we have S. polymorpha here in the US as well but their color patterns are significantly different as far as I know. Regardless, Scolopendras have some rather nasty venom and centipede size is often proportional to amount of venom injected, S. subspinipes from the tropics are reportedly as painful as a male platypus (some say they wouldn’t wish it on their enemies or would’ve rather cut the offending limb off)…even morphine has little to no effect on the pain. I did read some medical articles that were published on the internet and one was a study of centipede envenomations in the United States . Heat would actually reduce the pain such as a warm wash cloth.   If you would like more info on this genus let me know, I know some people on that forum who are quite knowledgeable in regards to centipedes (one of the mods is working on a master’s in Entomology, scorpions, as well). And again, excellent site and very helpful as a quick reference…I’ve been looking for one for a few months now but no luck through Google somehow lol.   Best Wishes,
Josh

Winner in the House Centipede Photo Contest!!!
(06/28/2005) house centipede shots
Hi folks! Well your site allowed to immediately identify my bug. I am an amateur macro-nature photographer, and I cleaned out an unfinished musty basement after 30 years of unuse. I thought I had gotten rid of most of the bugs, and then as I tried to open a stuck window, and had my face really close to the pane...BLAMMO, there was this 2-inch monster, unlike any of the zillions of bugs I have seen. This is a really large pic -- but I thought I'd give you the full resolution, and you can do what you want with it. I took like 20 pics and could not get my camera to focus until I switched to "spot-focus" and pointed at the center of the stripey fella. He stayed completely motionless until I really jolted the window -- his motion was fast and fluid and scared the crap out of me. I think I may win the best house centipede pic trophy! well enjoy!
Bryan Jaicks, Jersey City, NJ



Hi Brian,
I don't know which is better, your superbe image or your colorful written account. At any rate, we are declaring you the winner in the House Centipede photo contest, though it really didn't exist until your photo arrived. We are going to give it a permanent place at the top of our Centipede page.

Forgiveness granted!!
(07/01/2005) Please tell me I didn't kill it.
Bugman Hi,
At first I was astonished by its majestic shape (hence the picture), but after ten minutes of it just staring at me, I freaked and washed this centipede, which occupied my kitchen sink, down the drain with tap water. It put up a good fight and didn't seem to mind it for the most part.
a friend directed me to your site and now I am ashamed of my ignorance and my reaction. I have never seen anything like it and obviously overreacted.  
Could you pass on my apology? being a bugman and all.
Thanks,
Rami



Hi Rami,
We and the House Centipede forgive you because we know it won't happen again.

Multicolored Centipede
(06/18/2005) new centipede picture
Hey there,
I'm sure you have enough, but this is a pretty good picture of what I believe is a multi-colored centipede. Identification based on other pictures on your website. Found originally in a door frame, but later in the garbage disposal. Hope you can use the picture.
Zac



Hi Zac,
Please, please tell me the poor centipede crawled out of the garbage disposal and went its merry way.

He is being temporarily held for observation, but should be released later today. Those guys are quick. He came flying out well before any damage occurred.

Flat-Backed Millipede
(06/09/2005)hope it doesn't bite!!!
Hi Bugman!
LOVE your site.  I'll be visiting a lot!  Can you tell me what this beast is?  I can't tell if it is a centipede or a millipede.  He was scurrying across our patio here in Apex, North Carolina. Thanks!
Nancy Nice


Hi Nancy Nice,
The difference between Millipedes and Centipedes is that Centipedes have one pair of legs per segment and Millipedes have two pairs of legs per segment. We couldn't locate a species name for your Millipede, so we contacted Eric Eaton. Here is his response: "It is a flat-backed millipede (Polydesmida order).  Very pretty, but many species like this secrete a cyanide compound to defend themselves. As long as you don't eat one or lick it, you should survive."

House Centipede
(05/15/2005) photo of house centipede
in case you might like to use it. thanks for your helpful site!
Jana



Thanks Jana,
It is one of the best photos for identification we have received of this terrifying, to so many people, and fascinating creature.

Hellgrammite and Millipede
(06/06/2005) the strangest bug i've ever seen in my life!
I was hiking at McConell's Mills in Western Pennsylvania and happened across this bug sitting in the middle of the street. It appears to me to be some sort of beetle larva, but it's SO big. It also had this fancy move it did when we touched its head with a stick - it would curl its tail under [which was soft like a catepillar's body] to quickly launch itself backward a few inches. Here it is pictured with my boyfriend's finger [who, for scale, is 6'4"]. And here is another better picture of its face. I also have a video i took of it walking and doing its cool backwards launch maneuver, which you can have if you're interested. PLEASE tell us what kind of bug this is. We're absolutely dying to know. I almost regret not taking it home with me! I just hope it didn't wander back into the middle of the road.   Thanks!
Jen and Glenn
ps. We also found a bunch of these really pretty red and black millipedes, which i've included a picture of. They were about 4 inches long.



Hi Jen and Glenn,
You have just encounted a Hellgrammite, the larval form of the Dobsonfly. These curious larvae are prized by fishermen as bait. Your millipede is indeed quite beautiful.

House Centipede
(05/09/2005) Mr.  Bugman,
What a great site!  I've had this bug in my house that I've never figured out.  I finally ran into your site and found it!  From your reply to another person, it is a house centipede.  Sadly to say, the bug did not live over a day in an open container.  It seemed like it was frozen the way it died; everything was stiff.  I know you have tons of pictures already, but here's a couple more when the bug was still alive.  Anwyays..keep up the awesome work on your site.
Herbie - Tracy, California



Thanks for the new image Herbie. Because images and letters on our homepage are time sensitive, we always like getting new images of common critters so they will be prominently located at the top of our homepage where visitors with attention deficit syndrome can easily locate them without scrolling too far.

House Centipede
(04/08/2005) What's this bug?
We sprayed our basement last night and this morning found this, probably dead...I haven't checked...laying on my daughter's play mats so I'd like to know what it is, and if it's dangerous.  Thanks!  I have more pictures if needed.  The bug is approximately 2 1/2 inches long, not including legs.
Cathie
"Mushroom Fluff!"



Hi Cathie,
The poor dead House Centipede is harmless to you and your daughter, though when they rapidly dart across the room, usually at night, they often startle people who tend to fear them. They are common enough in homes where they eagerly dispatch other unwanted household intruders by devouring them. They feast on roaches, flies, spiders and many other small invertebrates.

Dead House Centipede
(02/13/2005) Rude Bug
Heyas!
I have seen several of these little creepy things. I live in Houston, TX right next to a bayou and have all kinds of bugs dropping by for tea. This one gave me a dirty look (and I think a middle finger). My brother says he thinks it is a silverfish but I think it might be a type of centipede. Either way, it was rather rude! Any idea what it is?
Thanks,
Sarah



Hi Sarah,
Poor, harmless, dead House Centipede never did anything to harm anyone.

Italian Millipedes
(02/03/2005) Millipedes? Help...
Dear Bugman,
I recently moved into an large, old house in Italy and have been overrun by a millipede-like bug. Approximately 20 of these appear every day and seem to prefer affixing themselves to the ceiling. I have been blasting them daily with bugspray which is reducing their numbers, but would like to find their lair and get rid of them completely. Any advice....?
Thanks
Dom



Hi Dom,
You do have millipedes. They like damp conditions, and other than being a nuisance, they are not harmful. Populations tend to rise and fall with seasonal and weather conditions, and the drier days of summer should see the numbers decrease. Millipedes also do not wander far from damp ground, and finding them on the ceiling might be a sign of rotting wood in the walls. Sorry, I can't give you any erradication advice.

House Centipede now running free
(12/19/2004) Hi Bugman/House Centipede
Here are two shots of this bug I found in the hallway between my bathroom and bedroom!  Way to scary for words... (of course I caught and released it.. =)
Thanks for the very cool site! =)
Leah Balecha
Hollywood CA



Hi Leah,
I'm happy our humble site was helpful in your House Centipede identification, but I am amused that your photos were originally titled "monster". We are also very happy your House Centipede is now running free.

Centipede
(12/15/2004) bug question
Hi, Bugman,
I stumbled upon your site, while searching for snow fleas, which a local pest company said my bug was. However I don't believe that is it, having checked the pix I have seen, and descriptions.
I had sent them a photo I took, which I am sending. the bug was the size of a millipede- a little over an inch as I recall. I found it soon after I moved in, and picked it up (thinking it was dead) and was very surprized to have a stinging sensation which persisted for maybe 10 minutes after I wshed my hands. This is why I took the photo (on a paper towel) hoping to identify it. I never saw another.
Blessings,
Wanda



Hi Wanda,
We believe you have sent in a photo of a centipede. They are poisonous, but the bite is generally mild. Some large species grow to 8 inches or more and have a very painful bite.

Millipede
(11/12/2004) Help quickly please! Centipede or millipede? Dog may have been bitten!
Hello,
My dog was acting rather strangely, laying down and rubbing his mouth on the floor, much like when you give a dog spicey food. Anyways I looked over and I saw this brown bug crawling accross the floor. Immeditely I captured it and took these pictures. As I understand a millipede is not harmful, but a centipede is, and I'd like to know what this is. When it crawled it was like its legs were moving like waves. and was roughly an inch, to an inch and a half long. Please help me out on this, I'm afraid if my dog did get bitten by this. To possibly help out more I live in Arizona near a mountain preserve, so there's wild landscapping.
Thanks
AzS.



Dear AzS,
You have sent in a photo of a millipede, and though they do not bite, according to Hogue: "If disturbed, a millipede will coil up like a watch sprint; many species also exude fluids that stain the skin and have a repugnant odor that has been dcompared to iodine, quinine, or chlorine. The fluids commonly are benzoquinones and other chemicals that evaporate rapidly and act as repellents against predators. Certain millipedes produce cyanide fumes." I would venture to guess your dog just got a bad taste in his mouth.

Probably a Millipede
(11/12/2004) Is this a centipede larva?
Hi-
My 7 year old bug lover son, found 2 of these centipede-like creatures the other day.  We have looked online and can't find it anywhere.  Can you help us?  We live in Santa Cruz County, CA if that helps locate the species.  It is the bug in the middle.
Kendra



Hi Kendra,
Your specimens look more like some species of millipede, but not a species we are able to identify.

Multi-Colored Centipede
(11/05/2004) HELP
Found this in my house this morning hiding under a shoe? Been all of the web and cannot find one like it. Have found some similar but not this one.
Misty



Hi Misty,
You neglected to tell us where this was found, other than under a shoe. It looks like a Multi-Colored Centipede, Scolopendra polymorpha, which vary from dark olive yellow to greenish brown. This centipede can grow to 3 or 4 inches in length. They can bite painfully.

Centipede
(10/13/2004) What is this bug?!?!?!?
Dear What's That Bug:
I found this bug in my bathroom.  Is it some sort of centipede or millipede?  I couldn't find a picture of it on the web.  I tried to kill it but it wouldn't die.  Mean, huh?  Its legs moved in waves.  We live in Iowa.  I have never seen this before - do you know?
Thanks for being on the web - great site!
Brea Lewis
Sioux City, Iowa



Hi Brea,
You have a centipede. They do contain poison glands and some species, especially the large centipedes from Texas and Oklahoma, can give a painful bite.

House Centipede pet
(09/02/2004) INTERESTING INSECT
Apologies for the bad photo; I used my camera/phone. The insect is brown with darker brown stripes length-wise down its body.  Its legs are striped width-wise. He's soft-bodied (like a caterpillar), and quite clean, cleaning each leg meticulously. Not knowing what to feed it, I gave it strips of fresh carrot, and a few pieces of dry dog food. It has 14 pair of legs, 2 antennae in the front, and 2 antennae-like in the rear. His legs move in a wave-type motion. It has a pair of claws in the front, 2 eyes, and a 'round' face (for lack of a better description). I searched different sites trying to ID this creature.  I was unsuccessful. Would you assist me in identifying this great insect?
Thank you!
Judy



Hi Judy,
Your House Centipede pet is not an insect. Try feeding it live insects, like flies. You can even buy crickets from the pet store as food. They will not bit. Most people who send us letters concerning House Centipedes are terrified. Your letter was refreshing.

Dead House Centipede
(08/11/2004) What in the world is this thing?
Hello!  I hope you'll be able to help me out here.  A friend of mine took a picture of this...insect in her basement, and from the description and the photograph (link included in this message) it looks to be some sort of caterpillar. Of course, that is a maybe.  I've never seen anything like it before and neither has anyone else I've questioned.
Location:  Minnesota (St. Paul area)
Thank you for your time and patience.
Sincerely,
Michelle y. Richardson



Hi Michelle,
Sorry for the delay. I am very amused that your friend named her poor dead House Centipede "Satan" which might explain why it is dead. They are harmless, though they often startle people when they run across a floor at night. They are very fast, but will kill and eat spiders and cockroaches and other undesireable household intruders.

Lesvian Millipedes
(07/07/2004) Unknown Bug on Lesvos Greece
Hi
I was wondering if you could help me identify a bug. Attached is a
picture of an unknown bug I found on my mothers farm in Greece.
Many thanks
Pippa



Hi Pippa,
Your Lesvian Millipedes are surely beautiful. They can be distinguished from centipedes as millipedes have two legs per segment. Sorry, I am not familiar with all the exotica of Lesvos, and do not have a species name, but I will continue to research the matter.

Myriapod
(07/07/2004
I live in southcentral Kentucky and have found these occasionally when planting something. Recently, I have found lots of dead ones at the bottom of the pool.  Can you tell me what they are? I have attached a couple of pictures.  Thanks.



We just got the following correction from Joe:
(06/23/2005) Isopod or myriapod?
Great website! The last time I was looking at a photo one of your readers sent ( More Isopods(07/07/2004) and you identified it as a type of terrestrial isopod.  However, as far as I know all isopods (superclass Crustacea) have only 7 pairs of legs.  The photo shows an arthropod with two pairs of legs per body segment and at least 13 body segments, besides the head and abdomen.  I am inclined to believe this is of the superclass Myriapoda, not Crustacea; specifically Class Diploda, Super Order Pentazonia. I am unsure of the order (could be Glomerida or Sphaeriotheriida (both commonly known to roll up in a ball), otherwise known as pill millipedes. I certainly don't consider myself an expert, so perhaps you can clarify?   Thank you, Joe

Millipedes
(07/04/2004) Unknown Bug in VA
Bugman
I've seen these around in the past, but this year they are everywhere, and by the hundreds.  I've attached some photos. Sorry for the size, but I wanted you to get as much detail as possible. Great site.
Peace.
Brad Barker



Hi Brad,
You have millipedes. These are distinguished from centipedes since they have two pairs of legs on each segment. They are relatively benign creatures that can get very numerous, as you well know, when it is warm and damp. They sometimes eat new seedlings, but mostly they eat decaying matter and help to break down debris.

(03/04/2004) Scared of Something
In my home one day I spotted a horrible bug. It was six inches long,gray and looked like it had hair for legs and was incredibly fast.It look like this:
Katherine Cohen



Hi Katherine,
You have made a wonderful drawing of a House Centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata, though six inches is an exaggeration.

(02/18/2004) House Centipede
Hi. First, I want to thank you for your wonderfully informative site. I was trying to identify the very creepy looking critter in my bathtub and was able to find out that it was a house centipede and that I need not be afraid. :) Anyway, I had gotten a pretty good picture of it and thought I'd pass it along in case you could make use of it.
Thanks again.
Tina



Hi Tina,
I'm glad we could be helpful. I will post your photo immediately. Since we get so many letters about House Centipedes, it is always nice to have a new image for the homepage.

One of the Best Letters Ever
(9/12/2003)  Whole lotta legs
Dear Señor Bugman,
Please help.  What the !*&^%$!@* are these things?!?!
I am an American who was transferred to Mexico for my job.  I live in a small town located in Mexico (State of Sonora) along the Sea of Cortez.  Unfortunately living conditions here are not the best.  Yes, we found these horrible things in our house.  Yes, we have had the house fumigated (several times).  AND YES, I am having nightmares about being eaten alive by these giant bugs.  It took a half a jug of Ortho bug killer to bring these creatures to their demise (me screaming the entire time).  See attached pictures.  We have also encountered tarantulas, reptiles, and snakes in our home.  Needless to say, every single day here is an adventure in the animal kingdom that's for sure.
 
My goodness.  I consider myself to be fairly brave in the face of most bugs - I can squash 'em with the best of 'em.  However, when the bugs begin to approach the size of a small dog and they have hair of their own and small things that resemble horns-things change.  YUCK!!!  I get the heebie-jeebies just reading about them on your web site.
 
As for the reptilia I have so bravely encountered in my shower each day....let me just say - NO!!!  I adore anything with fur (okay maybe not bugs with fur), I can tolerate things with feathers and fins...but ANYTHING that falls into the reptile category HAS GOT TO GO!!!  YYYYEEESSSSHHHHHH!!!
In any case....can you please just tell me if the pictures I've attached of these creeepy crawly things are poisonous???
Muchas gracias,
CactusGirlBecky
Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico

Icky Long Bug: Millipede

Big Ugly Bug: Multicolored Centipede

Dear Bugged Out Cactus Girl Becky,
At the risk of seeming insensitive, I just love your letter, and the photos are great. Please continue to send us photos of Mexican fauna whenever you want.
Your Icky Long Bug is a millipede, and it is harmless. On the other hand, your big ugly bug is a centipede that is capable of inflicting a painful and poisonous bite. At least yours is not as big as they grow in other parts of the tropics and in the Oklahoma desert where they are reported to reach upwards of eight inches. Yours appears to be a Multi-Colored Centipede, Scolopendra polymorpha. Little is known about their biology. The last pair of legs is capable of pinching. The reptile looks like a gecko, and will probably eat insects in your shower.

(10/14/2003)
Dear most Knowledgeable Bugman,
Ooops.  Sorry I see that you addressed my "bug letter" on your bug site already, so please ignore the email I just resent to you.
 
Thanks you so much for responding to my email on your website.  It is much appreciated.  At least I now know which bugs are poisonous (and require screaming AND running) vs. the bugs which are not poisonous (only require screaming).
 
I will continue to capture strange Mexico bug pictures and email them to you.  Thank god my camera has a giant zoom lens.  You can bet I won't be getting close to any of these gawd awful slimy things.
 
On a more pleasant note.....we had another snake invade our house this week.  My heroic husband managed to skewer it with his pool que.  Now there's creative reptile/bug killing!  The last time we had a snake in our house, it managed to hide in the bathroom until I had to tinkle.  Guess who REALLY woke up at 5:30 a.m. in the morning when it crawled across the tops of their bare feet?  Yes, that'd be me.  I ended up perched on top the of the toilet with the snake between me and the only escape route (the door, of course).  Screams can't even begin to describe what sounds my husband woke up to that morning.  When he opened up the bathroom door it slithered across his feet too (serves him right for sleeping through my snake trauma).  He ended up whacking that one in half, and then stood there in total shock while both halves kept moving.  Utter horror!  Right out of a Steven King novel.  I kid you not.  Maybe someday when I am brave enough, I will tell you about the story of the cockroach nest in our water tank.  Shivvvvvvver.

(10/13/2003)
We were in Dierks, AR near the Lower Saline River in the Ouachita Mountains and pretty close to the southeast border of Oklahoma.  We lifted up a kayak only to find this extremely fast moving critter resembling a centipede.  However, it was approximately 6-8 inches long and the body was black with yellow legs and red antennas.  We chased it around on the ground and a friend got it on video, but the critter started raising it's body off the ground and almost bouncing around like it was mad.  None of us had ever seen anything like it.  And here is some more information on the area:  we saw the largest tarantula ever in AR in this area and the river we were on is really full of sulphur from the decaying plants.  I understand this is due to the lake only being drawn down twice a year and the soil on the bottom containing the sulphur gets stirred.  So my conclusion on these large bugs is that maybe it has something to do with the water.   Again, though, I am really curious as to what the centipede look alike might be.  If we are able to get the video on computer and download an image, I will make sure it is sent to you.  
Thanks, Renee Wilson, CPA
Loan Review Officer
Bank of the Ozarks

Dear Renee,
Oklahoma has centipedes the size you saw.  Since you are so close, you may be within the range of the species.  I haven't found much information on them except that they are large and have a poisonous bite.  I don't think the water has much to do with the size of the tarantula and centipede you found.  Please send the photo if you are able.  We would love to see it.

Here is a letter we just love, and the original exchange can be found on the Hellgrammite page.

The Creatures
Hello Bug Person,
i saw your site and thought maybe you could help me and my roommate out. We have creatures . That's what we call them, because they are unlike anything we've ever seen. In the last three places we've lived, we have seen the Creatures in our basement.
They are similar to centipedes in that they are long, have many legs, and are creepy. But that's where the similarities end. Centipedes are flattened with legs that look like this ^ with one joint, but these Creatures have 2 joints, like spider legs. They don't have as many as a centipede but definitely more than 8. The legs are generally the same size too, not different lengths like a house centipede. they don't have the front "fangs" like a centipede but a mandible similar to a spider's - no antenae-no little butt feelers. And they come in 3 different colors. I've seen very large ones (4-5 inches), black with
white spots; others were just as big but dark brown; and just the other day, in our new duplex, we found a little one maybe 2-3 inches long and light brown. They are very fast and i even hit one with a book, cutting off its lower half, and the rest of it got away. Yeah, these things are evil. Nobody knows what these things are. We've had hunters, floridians, Arizonians, and other self-proclaimed bug experts, but we always get the same thing: a hideous blank stare and lonely nights in our basement. Can you tell me what the creatures are?

(7/30/2003)
Bugman, I found what I have identified as a centipede but im not sure what kind. I found it on a lady's porch. It is about 6" long and about the width of a mans index finger, or mine anyways. Color is dark brown and has two sets of legs for each body segment. I live on the coast of North Carolina and have never seen a centipede anywhere close to this size. Is this native to this area?...is it even native to the U.S.? I can take some pictures of it and send them in if this would help or if you are interested in seeing it.
Thank you

Dear Erik,
Please send the photos. There is a large desert centipede known as  Scolopendra heros.  S. heros has three subspecies. The S. heros "family" are the only centipedes in the continental United
States that can attain lengths larger than 8 inches.  They are normally reported from desert areas especially Oklahoma and Texas, but they are also kept as pets by people.  Perhaps your
specimen escaped or perhaps the range is much greater than expected.  We would very much like to see a photo.  For your information, centipedes have only one pair of legs per segment, and millipedes have two pairs per segment.
Daniel

(7/1/03) Hi there,
This thing wasn't in my home thank goodness. I was staying in a hostel in Toronto a couple weeks ago. When i arrived at the hostel way earlier than standard checkin time, they let me settle into a room anyhow because it was completely empty. they had cleaned it the day before and so there was no one staying in there at the time. Later that day another girl moved into the room, and she told me that she had been staying in there a couple days earlier, but had been moved out so they could clean the room because she had been getting weird rashy-looking bite marks all over her arms and legs. she showed me - just large red patches. no one else in the room had been bitten/stung/affected, but they decided to clean the room anyhow. a few days later, i was changing in the room one morning when something moving caught my eye. I glanced at the floor to see something dash out from the general area of a pile of luggage and run across the floor in front of me. i was stunned for a moment watching this bizarre thing and then, not having anything with which to really catch it, i tried to grab at a shoe to give it a whack (i'm not much for killing bugs though, but i didn't feel i had much in the way of options just then). before I could get it though, it ran underneath a pile of luggage under a girl's bunk. and she was sleeping in it at the time, so I didnt think it would be very good of me to go through her luggage, have her wake up and smack me thinking I was stealing something. The thing was never seen again during my stay. My first impression of it was that it looked like a translucent brown shrimpish thing. kind of like root beer candy, that sort of translucent brown. it was quick, it had something clawlike off the front. I didnt get an accurate leg count unfortunately... it had a small tail that was sticking out the back of it. like a shrimp. and it was certainly a couple inches long. I described this thing to a few people in toronto, and more than one of them said 'oh that's a silverfish!' I've seen silverfish before, theyre tiny and silver and fishlike. but these people insist silverfish in toronto look like brown shrimp things. i dont know if that's just a common torontonian nickname or what. My dad seems to think it might have been some kind of scorpion, which I guess half fits the description. I was looking at photos of pseudoscorpions and thought perhaps that was it, until i saw that those guys are much much smaller than the critter i saw. my beast looked a bit thinner and longer as well. Also, being a hostel, people come from all over the world. This bug could have i suppose hitched a ride from anywhere on earth..?! Any thoughts on what this might have been? I'm just really really curious. The hostel might like to know what's creeping around in their rooms as well. Thanks for your help!
Andy Scheffler

Dear Andy,
What an awesome letter. I hope I can help. I'm guessing house centipede. Very quick, transluscent, about 30 legs. We get lots of questions about this one. They are predatory, eating small insects, and not dangerous to people. No way it caused the girl's rash.

(5/15/03)I'm hoping you can help me out with a bug identification. We live in York, PA, in a brick house that's about 150 years old. We have these "creatures" that emerge in various places... I've seen them in the basement laundry room-- usually when I pick something up off the floor-- but also in the living room and dining room, scurrying across the floors or up the walls. They look kind of like the silverfish drawing, but they are longer and thinner, probably a little less than a half inch wide. They range in size from 2-3 inches long, but once I swear I saw one that was at least 4 inches long one time in the basement. They are gray in color, very flat, very fast, with lots of legs, but they don't seem to have the tentacles off the front and back like the silverfish drawing. I wish could get a picture of one-- unfortunately when I see one I'm so darn startled that I end up crushing it to an unidentifiable pulp!!! Any help available? Tricia

Dear Tricia,
   You have house centipedes (Scutigera coleoptrata). They are harmless, and actually eat other tiny pests that enter your house. We have some nice photos on our site www.whatsthatbug.com which you can view by clicking the centipede button.

Dear Bugman,
While working late one night in a soundstage in Long Beach area, my collegues and I were startled to find this creature crawling across the floor (and right thriugh our shot, no less!). Most of us had never seen such a thing, although I've come across them from time to time. I had always thought they were Silverfish, but the others disagreed. the body was about 4 to 5 centimeters long, and it moved remarkebly fast when provoked.

Please help us!

thank you,

Tomas Arceo

Dear Tomas Arceo,

This is one of our commonest What's That Bug? identifications. It is a house centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata. Thanks for the great photo. They are active, fast, and eat other intruders, hence they are beneficial and should not be harmed. Silverfish are another matter, and should be
eradicated.

October 18, 2002
I have been searching the web to see if I could find out what these weird, ugly bugs are that we have seen in our house. Alex wrote to you on 6/2/02 and describe the exact things we have. These bugs were NOT on the links you had attached. We live in Raleigh, NC. The bugs are FAST! I mean you see them and then they are gone. I thought is was some form of millipede or centipede, but I haven't been able to close enough to one to find out. They have MORE than 8 legs and the legs are at least two jointed because they hold the bug up off the ground like a spider more than a centipede or millipede. They are between 2 and 4 inches long. The legs are slender and black and I honestly haven't seen too much of the body except that it is thin, almost like it is only there to attach the legs. Thanks for any help you can give us.

Dear Liana,
I have contacted our local Museum of Natural History, and the entomologist I spoke with is also stumped. However, he did foreward this contact person in your area who might be able to assist in your identification. The really confusing part of your description is the size of your creature. 4-5 inches is huge, not for the tropics, but for the continental U.S. at least. The only possibility I have if your description is accurate, is that somehow you have acquired an exotic import that is happy with its new environment, and that is reproducing and moving with you from house to house, perhaps when you pack. Has either you or your roommate been to the Amazon, Sub-Saharan Africa, or Tropical Asia? Something fitting your description could originate in any of those places. Please keep us informed if you ever get a proper identification, or better yet, send us a photo of the creature if possible. You might also want to write to www.cryptozoology.com because those folk specialize in strange sightings. Here is the reply I got from Brian at the Natural History Museum:

Hi Daniel
Thanks for sending the letters. There is a guy in North Carolina who specializes in Millipedes named Rowland Shelley. He's at the North Carolina State Museum (at least as of 1998) P.O.Box 27647, Raleigh 27611. Unfortunately I don't have a phone number or e-mail but perhaps a website for this college will list his number(s) or someone there can forward these messages to him, etc... That's all I could come up with for now! GOOD LUCK!! Brian Harris ___________________________________
Brian P. Harris
Entomology Section
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

What's That Bug? is cleaning house, posting images that slipped through the cracks, and we though you would enjoy Mike's photo of a house centipede.

I think they are called house cenitpedes. And from what I read on the net, they can "?bite/sting?" people. But they are normally very shy and fast.

Dear Liana,
House centipedes do not get four inches long, but often things are not the size they appear. Also, your initial letter from Alex said they were not house centipedes, so I never even suggested that possibility since I thought he was certain your creatures were not house centipedes. House centipedes have about 15 pairs of legs, and the final pair are elongated. They are not harmful, and are actually beneficial as they devour unwanted insects.

Hello,
     I have a question regarding the nasty bugs I keep finding in my otherwise very happy home. I was reading over your "What's that Bug" page, trying to figure out which one it was, but it seems like a cross between a millipede and a silverfish. They have a million legs, range from 1/4" to 2", run incredibly fast, and seem to be made of nothing but water, because when you squish them they're not much more than legs. When my girlfriend and I asked an exterminator, he said they sounded like millipedes, but when looking at your site, they look more like silverfish but with many more legs and not the same coloring. They don't look like millipedes to me at all, at least not like the ones in your photo. I'm of course only interested in finding out what they are because I want to then find out how to get rid of them forever. So either answer would be very
much appreciated.
Thank you,
Logan

Dear Logan,
     My guess is that you have house centipedes. They fit your description to a
T. Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of one, but you could try going
online to http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/
iiin/housece.html which has a nice
photo or http://bohart.ucdavis.edu/bohart.as
p?s=insects&f=hcentipede which
has a good drawing. Let us know if we were correct in our identification.

October 18, 2002
I have been searching the web to see if I could find out what these weird, ugly bugs are that we have seen in our house. Alex wrote to you on 6/2/02 and describe the exact things we have. These bugs were NOT on the links you had attached. We live in Raleigh, NC. The bugs are FAST! I mean you see them and then they are gone. I thought is was some form of millipede or centipede, but I haven't been able to close enough to one to find out. They have MORE than 8 legs and the legs are at least two jointed because they hold the bug up off the ground like a spider more than a centipede or millipede. They are between 2 and 4 inches long. The legs are slender and black and I honestly haven't seen too much of the body except that it is thin, almost like it is only there to attach the legs. Thanks for any help you can give us. >

Dear Liana,
I have contacted our local Museum of Natural History, and the entomologist I spoke with is also stumped. However, he did foreward this contact person in your area who might be able to assist in your identification. The really confusing part of your description is the size of your creature. 4-5 inches is huge, not for the tropics, but for the continental U.S. at least. The only possibility I have if your description is accurate, is that somehow you have acquired an exotic import that is happy with its new environment, and that is reproducing and moving with you from house to house, perhaps when you pack. Has either you or your roommate been to the Amazon, Sub-Saharan Africa, or Tropical Asia? Something fitting your description could originate in any of those places. Please keep us informed if you ever get a proper identification, or better yet, send us a photo of the creature if possible. You might also want to write to www.cryptozoology.com because those folk specialize in strange sightings. Here is the reply I got from Brian at the Natural History Museum:

Hi Daniel
Thanks for sending the letters. There is a guy in North Carolina who specializes in Millipedes named Rowland Shelley. He's at the North Carolina State Museum (at least as of 1998) P.O.Box 27647, Raleigh 27611. Unfortunately I don't have a phone number or e-mail but perhaps a website for this college will list his number(s) or someone there can forward these messages to him, etc... That's all I could come up with for now! GOOD LUCK!! Brian Harris ___________________________________
Brian P. Harris
Entomology Section
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

I think they are called house cenitpedes. And from what I read on the net, they can "?bite/sting?" people. But they are normally very shy and fast.

Dear Liana,
House centipedes do not get four inches long, but often things are not the size they appear. Also, your initial letter from Alex said they were not house centipedes, so I never even suggested that possibility since I thought he was certain your creatures were not house centipedes. House centipedes have about 15 pairs of legs, and the final pair are elongated. They are not harmful, and are actually beneficial as they devour unwanted insects.

November 21, 2001

Years ago, I came across a black centipede with yellow legs, about 6 to 8 inches long. I live in N.E. Oklahoma. I have only seen 1 or 2 since then. How common are these?

Dear Curious About Centipedes in Oklahoma,
   Due to the general lack of cooperation from the chilopods, the class of invertebrates known as centipedes, there has been no formal census or headcount in recent years.  Oklahoma does seem to be a breeding ground for the large centipede that you describe as there are hundreds of www links to be found, albeit, none with comprehensive information.  Rock climbers in Chandler Park, Oklahoma, are warned to "Beware of poison ivy and the dreaded foot long centipedes which like to take refuge in the thousands of pockets found here.  They are poisonous"  and the author has personally seen one chewing on a large field mouse.  I have also found information that claims they eat young rattlesnakes.

Dear Mr. Marlos,
      Having recently moved from an apartment on the mean sidewalks of Beverly Hills to a guest house in the rural splendor of Van Nuys, I have had plenty of opportunities to observe the local wildlife: Specifically in my new home. Just the other night, my cat (The Princess of Piss) directed my attention to my kitchen floor. Imagine my surprise when I found the object of her fascination crawling sluggishly across it: a long, black bug with multiple tiny legs. It looked like a cross between a cockroach and a caterpillar. Any idea what it could have been?

Yours in Insectia,
Susan Ehrlich


Hi Susie,
      Just how long is long? In bug identification, size does matter. I am guessing that the long, black bug with multiple tiny legs was a millipede, which translates as "thousand feet" from Latin. Though a thousand is something of an exaggeration, they are in possession of many appendages, nevertheless, they move remarkably slowly, and sluggish is a very appropriate description. Several small species live in the Los Angeles basin, but two closely related species, Hiltonius pulchrus and Tylobolus claremontus, sometimes exceed three inches in length. A third species, Atopetholus californicus is slightly smaller. Millepedes are arthropods. Local species have shiny, cylindrical, segmented bodies that are black, dark grey or brown in color. When disturbed, millepedes will curl up like a watch spring. They often exude foul smelling fluids as a repelling defense mechanism. Some can even produce cyanide fumes. They prefer moist conditions and are prone to nocturnal wandering. They eat humus, rotting leaves and rotting wood, and are not a threat to life, limb nor property.

Dear What's that Bug?
     My house is being overrun by millipedes... they are 1 to 3 inches long and red to reddish brown in color. There are hundreds of them which I find crawling all over my counters, up and down my walls, and covering my floors. I was assuming that they were coming in through the cracks around windows and doors but I think they may be getting into my home through my A/C vents. I've been finding them in small rooms and closets that are nowhere near a door or window. Please help me rid my home of these and prevent further infestation!!!
     —Amy

Dear Amy,
      Where is your house? Do you live stateside, Southern California in particular, or in some faraway exotic place?
      Millipedes belong to the class Diplopoda which means double footed, referring to the two close-set pairs of legs on each apparent segment (each segment actually consists of two coalesced true segments) of these worm-like arthropods. Millipedes prefer moist conditions, and they abound in damp litter and under rocks, logs, and loose bark, however, in their nocturnal wandering, they may wander into your cool, dark home, especially if the conditions outdoors are dry and hot. They are common after rains. Though they are harmless and nonaggressive, they have the ability to exude noxious fumes and fluids as a defense mechanism. The odor has been compared to iodine, quinine and chlorine, and some species are reputed to produce cyanide fumes. I would suggest a dehumifier for your home and shutting off the air conditioner, both of which will make your home less hospitable for the unwanted guests. One final thought: Certain years see a preponderance of certain species, whose life cycle peaks and then declines. This will go down in your diary as "the year of the millipedes," and can perhaps fuel your literary endeavors. Make the most of a bad situation.
     signed,
     Daniel Marlos
     What's That Bug?

Amy replies:
      I live in central South Carolina. Very humid weather. My apartment is a bright dry place as opposed to the humid warm weather outside. That is the reason I was confused. Seems to me that these little guys would much prefer the weather outside to that of my home. I did notice a strange smell when I returned from my short vacation last week but It wasn't all that horrible so I just chalked it up to the place being closed up for a few days. Hope my 'year of the millipedes' ends soon...
      —Amy

Dear Amy,
     Thank you for the further clarification. The fact that you live in humid South Carolina, a temperate rain forest, would help to explain why you have vast quantities of millipedes in your immediate vicinity to begin with. Sadly, not much is known about the biology of these interesting creatures. There is a tropical species, Oxidus gracilis, which goes by the common name Greenhouse Millipede. During the warm months, enormous swarms of them may develop in beds filled with potting soil, and it is possible that your infestation could be multiplying in your potted plants. The smell you noted could also have some bearing. As the critters eat decaying organic material, namely humus, rotting leaves, wood and bark, it is possible that wood used in the construction of your building could be providing them with a food source. Encyclopaedia Britannica states that "for some unexplained reason millipedes occasionally move in large numbers, sometimes even in broad daylight. On one occasion in Alsace a train was stopped because the dead and crushed bodies of migrating diplopods made the rails slippery." On a humorous final note, the encyclopaedia also states that "no credence should be given to the occasional reports that millipedes have been found living parasitically in the human bowel." Keep us posted as to the final outcome of your Year of the Millipede.
     signed
     Daniel Marlos
     What's That Bug