House Centipede

Image: Bruce Marlin

Last week we learned all about the Silverfish. Today we look at another creepy-crawly that sometimes gets called a silverfish even though it's not silver, is in no way fishy and is just completely different in general. In fact, calling this little monster a silverfish would be deeply insulting to the both of them. Why? Because this is the House Centipede, a predatory myriapod which eats, amongst other things, silverfish.

I think some sensitivity to the plight of the poor old silverfish is in order, no?

Image: e_monk

The House Centipede originated in the Mediterranean but they have managed to somehow get themselves all over the world. Many still live outdoors but, much like silverfish, they find the warmth of human abodes make for a wonderful habitat, especially when it starts to get cold out. They may even pay you for the shelter you're so kindly offering them. Not in money, unfortunately, but in labour. So long as that labour involves killing and eating little insects, anyway.

Aside from silverfish, ants, termites, cockroaches and bedbugs can all find themselves becoming grist for the House Centipede's mandible. That's quite a cabal of household horrors! Actually, almost anything with an exoskeleton is unwanted in most homes, so House Centipedes can't help but be an effective insecticide that also happens to leave far fewer corpses lying around. The only problem is that they themselves have an exoskeleton. Aside from that, they can't put a foot wrong!

Well, they can also sting and cause swelling and a rash... also, they reach some 1 or 2 inches in length and scurry around at night... but aside from that, and the way they look... OK, House Centipedes have quite a few problems to overcome if they want to become a welcome member of the family. They put quite a few feet wrong, not least by having up to 30 feet.

Video: Pricia

I guess you can't call them "leggy blondes", can you? Those long, spindly legs are pretty extraordinary, though. It all looks tremendously complicated and leaves them almost comically lanky.

You may notice that their back legs are the longest and they get shorter and shorter as you reach the head. This isn't a preposterous attempt at being aerodynamic, it actually means that each leg can step over the ones in front so they can run around with surprising speed without tripping over themselves. Those legs are also quite fragile and break off easily to aid them in an escape, leaving them with a mere 29 legs. Calamity! They'll be regrown with the next moult, though. Phew!

House Centipedes also have long antennae that are used to smell and feel their way around and some of the best eyes in the centipede world. That isn't saying a whole lot since a lot of centipedes have no eyes at all, but the House variety are very sensitive to ultraviolet light for some reason. They're nocturnal and spend their time under rocks, what's all that vision for? In any case, it's all good enough for the hunt, and that's the main thing.

Image: Tim Gage

Like all centipedes, the first pair of legs have become pincer-shaped forcipules and are used to sting. The venom is powerful enough to kill their prey and House Centipedes have even been seen attacking wasps and waiting patiently for the venom to take affect. Less deadly prey can simply be leapt on and overcome without fear of reprisal. It's tactical thinking like that which ensures House Centipedes can live for 3 to 7 years depending on just how clement their environment is.

Mating occurs in the Spring, where the female lays more or less 100 eggs. She looks after them for several weeks, holding them in her legs and cleansing them of fungus. She will even keep hold of the larvae after they hatch. I suppose she's worried because at that point they only have 8 legs. 8 measly legs! Eventually she must let go, whereupon dozens of young House Centipedes march off to begin their lives. Party at your house!