House Centipede

Scutigera coleoptrata

This centipede is scary-looking but relatively harmless, except of course to the insects it eats. Even though their name means "hundred feet," centipedes don't necessarily have 100 legs; some species have only 15 pairs, while others have more than 170 pairs!

Look For : A light brown, fast-moving centipede. It has strong jaws and two long antennae. One pair of legs per body segment (15 pairs in all).

Length : 4".

Habitat : Leaf litter, dead trees, cellars.

Range : Widespread.