If you've never seen one of these
critters before, you might at first mistakenly identify it as a
hairy caterpillar out for a jog. But, upon attempting to
squash the
caterpillar, you will notice that it will run away at
breakneck speed. Now, I don't mean breakneck speed for a
bug. I mean this
badass moves fucking fast.
You see, the house
centipede, or Scutigera
coleoptrata, is the
king of the household bug
kingdom. I was raised to believe that
spiders were the king, but no. You see, centipedes
hunt and eat spiders.
Since my first encounter with a house centipede in
1998, I have acquired a certain
respect for the little badasses. They
demand respect, just like
skunks do.
Let me state my reasons:
- A house centipede has poison claws behind its head. It uses these to paralyze its prey or sting you as badly as a bee, but only if you provoke it.
- The house centipede is fast. And when it's scared, it's damn fast.
- The house centipede takes at least 2 hard hits with a shoe before it dies. That's more than many beetles.
- If the house centipede is cut in 2, both pieces are still active.
- House centipedes do not get into your food like cockroaches and maggots do.
- House centipedes basically ignore you until you provoke them. Flies land on you and your food; spiders bite you in your sleep and build annoying webs.
Other interesting
tidbits:
House Centipede Encounter & Eliminate Counter (since May 1, 2000): 5 & 4
House centipedes originated in Mexico, but are prevalent across most of North America.