Bug Identifier
Stone centipede
Community identification

Stone centipede

Lithobius forficatus

Order & Family
Order Lithobiomorpha, Family Lithobiidae
Size
18–30 mm (approx. 0.7–1.2 inches) in length
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

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.