Stone Centipede

Stone centipedes belong to the order Lithobiomorpha, a widespread group recognized by their flattened bodies, 15 pairs of legs, and rapid, scurrying movement. The genus Lithobius is especially common across Europe and North America, often turned up by gardeners lifting rocks, logs, or mulch.

These centipedes are active nighttime predators that help regulate populations of small invertebrates in soil and leaf litter. Unlike the much longer soil centipedes, stone centipedes have a short, robust body and relatively long legs that let them move quickly across uneven surfaces when exposed.

• Flattened, reddish-brown to yellowish-brown body with 15 pairs of legs as an adult
• Legs increase in length toward the rear of the body, aiding rapid movement
• Long, thread-like antennae used to sense surroundings in the dark
• Distinct head with a pair of forcipules (venom claws) tucked beneath it
• Adults typically 1-3 cm long, much shorter and more robust than soil centipedes
• Lacks the extremely long legs of house centipedes and the vivid banding of larger tropical centipedes

Common throughout temperate regions of Europe, North America, and beyond, stone centipedes live under stones, logs, loose bark, and in soil and leaf litter in gardens, parks, and woodlands. They favor cool, moist, dark microhabitats and are most active at night, seeking shelter from light and desiccation during the day.

Stone centipedes are active nocturnal predators that hunt springtails, small insects, mites, and other soft-bodied invertebrates using speed and a venom-injecting pair of modified front legs (forcipules) to subdue prey. They avoid light and dry conditions, fleeing rapidly for cover when uncovered. As predators, they help keep populations of small soil-dwelling invertebrates in check and are themselves preyed upon by birds, shrews, and larger arthropods.

Females lay eggs singly in soil, often coating each egg with soil particles for protection. Juveniles hatch with fewer legs and segments than adults and add both through a series of molts over one to several years, a pattern called anamorphic development. Adults can live for two or more years, sheltering through winter in deep soil, under bark, or beneath stones.