But before you do, keep this in mind:. Centipedes love to dine on ants, spiders, cockroaches and bedbugs -- so if you see a centipede in your home but no other bug species, there's a pretty good chance they've taken on the role of exterminator for you.
You also don't need to worry about centipedes creating any type of nests or webs inside your home, eating your wood or transmitting a fatal disease. Virtually all centipedes prey on smaller animals eg, insects captured with poisonous claws. Some large species may inflict poisonous "bites" on humans if handled carelessly, but they are aggressive only toward prey.
In Canada only the introduced house centipede Scutigera coleoptrata can inflict a painful not dangerous nip to humans.
The introduced garden or "greenhouse centipede" Scutigerella immaculata , sometimes a horticultural pest, especially in southern Ontario, is not a true centipede but belongs to a small, distantly related noncarnivorous class Symphyla , with only species in Canada. Canadian Biodiversity Website A great information source for all budding biologists.
Learn about biodiversity theory, natural history, and conservation issues. Search The Canadian Encyclopedia. Remember me. I forgot my password. It is estimated that there are roughly 80, species of millipedes and 8, species of centipedes. About 70 species of centipede live here in Canada, with the house centipede being one of the most common centipedes in North America. It is also the species most likely to turn up in your basement if you live in or around London, Ontario. As similar as these two creatures may seem, there are a few things to keep in mind if you think you might have a centipede or millipede in your home.
Description Have one pair of long, thin, very fast legs per body segment. Also have two antennae, flattened bodies and a bristly appearance. The body sometimes has darker strips or markings on the back. Notes Most centipedes found in Canada have about 15 pairs of legs, while others in the tropics can have hundreds.
How to identify Centipedes Centipedes are segmented arthropods and their leg count typically ranges anywhere from 30 to nearly limbs. Signs of an infestation As they do not typically leave lasting signs of infestation, damage buildings, or contaminate food, centipede infestations may go unnoticed for some time.
Life Cycle Females lay eggs in underground nests. Commonly Asked Questions Why do I have centipedes? How worried should I be about centipedes?
What is the difference between centipedes and millipedes? Boxelder bugs. Booklice Barklice. Bat bugs. Chinch bugs.
0コメント