
Common pillbug / roly-poly
Adults have seven pairs of legs
Illustration · not shown at life sizeOther arthropods / Centipede
Scutigera coleoptrata
An adult house centipede has fifteen pairs of legs. This fast hunter eats other household arthropods.
A centipede, and part of our tiny-neighbor collection.
Let’s look closerLittle clues
Adults have fifteen pairs of legs.
Long, striped body.
Hunts other household arthropods.
Out in the world
Damp basements, usually at night.
At night, when it hunts.
Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.
A closer look
Adults have fifteen pairs of legs. Young house centipedes start with fewer and add more as they grow.
A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.
For curious grownups, too
Original summaries, with references for deeper reading. Field notes are being checked against the supplied research.
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Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Disc backs are blank; use the single carrier QR from the print studio to open the field guide.
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