
Community identification
Stone Centipede
Lithobiomorpha
- Order & Family
- Order Lithobiomorpha, Family Lithobiidae
- Size
- 10 to 50 mm (0.4 to 2.0 inches)
Natural Habitat
Damp, dark environments such as under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and garden mulch
Diet & Feeding
Carnivorous; feeds on small invertebrates like insects, spiders, worms, and snails
Behavior Patterns
Nocturnal hunters that use antenna to locate prey and venomous forcipules to subdue it; they are fast runners and the females lay eggs individually in the soil
Risks & Benefits
Benefits the ecosystem by controlling pest populations; while they possess venom, their bite is generally not medically significant to humans, though it may cause minor localized irritation