Common Centipede
by
Shop
Lithobius forficatus
Very common around Britain, partially fond of compost heaps.
The species is between 18 and 30 mm long and up to 4 mm broad and is a chestnut brown coloration.
It is similar to a variety of other European lithobiid centipedes, particularly the striped centipede, Lithobius variegatus, but L. forficatus does not have stripes on its legs.
Lithobiids leave the egg with seven pairs of legs, and each time they molt, they develop additional body segments with a new pair of legs on each.
An Adult will have a maximum of 15 pairs of legs.