
Community identification
Stone centipede
Lithobius forficatus
- Order & Family
- Order Lithobiomorpha, Family Lithobiidae
- Size
- 18–30 mm (approx. 0.7–1.2 inches) in length
Natural Habitat
Damp environments like leaf litter, under stones, bark, or logs, and in soil.
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous predator; eats insects like spiders, springtails, and flies, using venomous pincers (forcipules) to paralyze prey.
Behavior Patterns
Fast-moving, nocturnal hunter. They are long-lived (up to 5-6 years) and go through several molts during their lifecycle.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits: Useful for pest control as they eat garden pests. Risks: Though they have venom, they are generally shy and unlikely to bite humans unless handled; if bitten, it is usually no worse than a bee sting.