All About the Common Centipede - Common Centipede Facts & Information

The common centipede (Lithobius forficatus) is long and thin with a brown/reddish body and long antennae. It even has 15 pairs of legs, with the back pair being elongated and venomous claws on both sides of its head. Sometimes they are also known as the 'brown centipede' or 'stone centipede'.

Their antennae are extremely sensitive to touch and smell, so they use them to explore and locate prey.

They are actually one of the largest British centipede species found in the UK, reaching up to 3 cm in length. In the UK, they are nocturnal animals, but are often found hiding out under log piles and leaf litter in gardens, so they are one of the most familiar centipedes to a lot of people.

What do Brown Centipedes Eat

The common centipede species is a predator, and they feed on a range of insects, including spiders, slugs, and worms. They do not eat plants or decaying organic matter.

They hunt by using their long antennae to detect vibrations and chemical signals from their prey. When they find the prey, the centipede catches its prey using its forcipules (specially adapted front legs) - these legs resemble fangs and contain venom that paralyses the prey.

Common Centipede (Lithobius Forficatus) Habitat

If you’ve ever lifted a log or garden stone and spotted a quick, reddish-brown creature darting away, chances are you’ve met the common centipede (Lithobius forficatus). This species is one of the most widespread centipedes in the UK and plays an important role in the ecosystem as a small but efficient predator.

The common centipede can be found across a wide range of habitats, from gardens and woodlands to grasslands and urban areas. It thrives in moist, sheltered environments, under leaf litter, stones, rotting wood, or compost heaps. These damp conditions help prevent dehydration, as centipedes have thin exoskeletons that lose moisture easily. While generally outdoor dwellers, they sometimes find their way indoors, especially into basements, bathrooms, or sheds, where it's cool and damp.

Centipede Breeding

Centipedes may seem simple, but their breeding behaviour is surprisingly complex. In the common UK species, reproduction involves a chemical communication system. The female releases pheromones to attract a mate, and males respond by seeking her out. Instead of mating directly, the male deposits a spermatophore, a small sperm packet, on the ground. The female picks it up to fertilise her eggs.

Eggs are laid in moist soil or beneath dead wood, where the young hatch with only a few body segments. As they grow, they develop additional body segments and legs with each moult. This process helps them mature into fully formed, fast-moving predators. Like many-segmented invertebrates, centipedes are born to hunt, and even as juveniles, they’re capable of catching tiny prey.

Centipede Predators & Threats

Although centipedes are equipped with venomous claws and biting jaws, they aren’t immune to danger. In the British Isles, the common centipede faces a variety of natural threats. Birds such as blackbirds, frogs, and small mammals like shrews and hedgehogs see them as a tasty snack. Even other species of centipedes may turn cannibalistic under the right conditions.

Their thin exoskeleton and poor eyesight make them vulnerable in open spaces. That’s why they usually stay hidden beneath stones, logs, and dead wood. Human activities like digging, habitat destruction, and pesticide use also pose risks. Despite these challenges, their long antennae and fast movement give them a good chance of escape.

Five Facts about Centipedes

1. Not all centipedes have 100 legs. The common centipede (Lithobius forficatus) usually has 15 pairs of legs, one pair per body segment, and always an odd number of leg pairs overall.

2. Their specially adapted front legs look like fangs and act as venom-injecting claws, used to catch and paralyse prey quickly.

3. With poor eyesight, centipedes rely on their large antennae to sense their surroundings and detect the movement of nearby prey.

4. Centipedes are expert hunters that use speed, stealth, and venom to catch small invertebrates like insects, worms, and spiders.

5. The common centipede is just one of many centipede species found in the British Isles, though it’s one of the most familiar centipedes in gardens and woodlands.