Most live outside, primarily under large rocks, piles of wood or leaves, in barkdust and especially in compost piles. Centipede respiratory systems do not provide any mechanism for shutting the spiracles, and that is why they need an environment that protects them from dehydration and excessive cold. Outdoors, house centipedes prefer to live in cool, damp places. It may often be seen darting across floors with very great speed, occasionally stopping suddenly and remaining absolutely motionless, presently to resume its rapid movements, often darting directly at inmates of the house, particularly women, evidently with a desire to conceal itself beneath their dresses, and thus creating much consternation. Marlatt, an entomologist with the United States Department of Agriculture, wrote a brief description of the house centipede: House centipedes have been observed to groom their legs by curling around and grooming them with their forcipules. When the centipede is in danger of becoming prey itself, it can detach any legs that have become trapped. For wasps, they retreat after applying the venom to give it time to take effect. They also adapted their feeding pattern to the type of hazard the prey might pose to them. In a feeding study, S. coleoptrata showed the ability to distinguish between possible prey, avoiding dangerous insects. Like other centipedes they can stridulate. Using their legs to beat prey has also been described. To capture prey they either jump onto it or use their legs in a technique described as "lassoing". This way they can deal with several small insects at the same time. They use both their mandibles and their legs for holding prey. Their antennae are sensitive to both smells and tactile information. Despite their developed eyes, they seem to rely mostly on their antennae when hunting. These are not part of their mandibles, so strictly speaking they sting rather than bite. They administer venom through forcipules. House centipedes feed on spiders, bed bugs, termites, cockroaches, silverfish, ants, and other household arthropods. The male deposits his sperm on the ground and the female then uses it to fertilize her eggs. They initiate contact with their antennae.
To begin mating, the male and female circle around each other. They can start breeding in their third year. House centipedes live anywhere from three to seven years, depending on the environment. Adults with 15 pairs of legs retain that number through three more molting stages (sequence 4-5-7-9-11-13-15-15-15-15 pairs). They gain a new pair with the first molting, and two pairs with each of their five subsequent moltings. Young centipedes have four pairs of legs when they are hatched. As with many other arthropods, the larvae look like miniature versions of the adult, albeit with fewer legs. In a laboratory observation of 24 house centipedes, an average of 63 and a maximum of 151 eggs were laid. House centipedes lay their eggs in spring. Unlike most other centipedes, house centipedes and their close relatives have well-developed faceted eyes. When the centipede is at rest, it is not easy to tell its cranial end from its caudal end. S. coleoptrata has developed automimicry in that its tail-like hind legs present the appearance of antennae. Its body is yellowish-grey and has three dark dorsal stripes running down its length the legs also have dark stripes. The delicate legs enable it to reach surprising speeds of up to 0.4 meters per second (1.3 ft/s) running across floors, up walls and along ceilings. Together with the antennae they give the centipede an appearance of being 75 to 100 mm (3 to 4 in) in length. Up to 15 pairs of long legs are attached to the rigid body. The body of an adult Scutigera coleoptrata is typically 25 to 35 mm (1.0 to 1.4 in) in length, although larger specimens are sometimes encountered. The word scutigera comes from "to bear" ( gerere) and "shield" ( scutum), because of the shape of the plates in the back of the chilopod. In 1801, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck separated scutigera from scolopendra, calling this species Scutigera coleoptrata. In 1758, Carl Linnaeus described the species in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae, giving the name Scolopendra coleoptrata, writing that it has a "coleopterated thorax" (similar to a coleopter). It is an insectivore it kills and eats other arthropods, such as insects and arachnids. Originating in the Mediterranean region, it has spread to other parts of the world, where it can live in human homes. Scutigera coleoptrata, also known as the house centipede, is a species of centipede that is typically yellowish-grey and has up to 15 pairs of long legs.
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