50 PRINCIPAL HOUSEHOLD INSECTS. 



prey, inclosing and caging it with its many legs. In its habit of spring- 

 ing after its prey this centipede is similar to spiders, which it also 

 resembles in its rapacious habits. It would therefore seem to be a very 

 efficient enemy of many of our house pests. The common idea that it 

 probably feeds on honsehokl goods and woolens or other clothing has 

 no basis in fact. 



The popular belief is that this centipede is extremely poisonous, 

 and, as it belongs with the x)oisonous group of centipedes, it can not 

 be questioned but that the bite of the creature is probably somewhat 

 poisonous as well as painful, though the seriousness of the results will 

 be dependent, as in all similar cases, on the susceptibility of the patient. 

 The poison injected in the act of biting is probably merely to assist in 

 numbing and quieting its victim, and in spite of its abundance in houses 

 in the North, and for many years its much greater abundance in the 

 South, very few cases are recorded of its having bitten any human 

 being, and it is very questionable whether it would ever, unprovoked, 

 attack any large animal. If pressed with the bare foot or hand, or if 

 caught between sheets in beds, this, like almost any other insect, will 

 unquestionably bite in self-defense, and the few such cases on record 

 indicate that severe swelling and pain may result from the poison 

 injected. Prompt dressing of the wound with ammonia will greatly 

 alleviate the disagreeable symptoms. 



Little is known of the early life history of this Myriapod. It is 

 found in the adult state in houses during practically the entire year. 

 Half-grown individuals are also found frequently during the summer. 

 A newly-born specimen was recently found by Mr. H. G. Hubbard in 

 the Department Insectary under a moist section of a log, and differed 

 from the older forms chiefly in j^ossessing fewer legs. Its character- 

 istics are indicated in the accompanying illustration (tig. 17). In the 

 half-grown and later stages it does not differ materially from the adult, 

 except in size, and its habits throughout life are probably subject to 

 little variation. 



If it were not for its uncanny appearance, which is hardly calculated 

 to inspire contidence, especially when it is darting at oue with great 

 speed, and the rather poisonous nature of its bite, it would not neces- 

 sarily be an unwelcome visitor in houses, but, on the contrary, to be 

 looked upon rather as an aid in keeping in check various household 

 pests. Its appearance in our dwellings, however, will not often be wel- 

 come notwithstanding its useful role. It can be best controlled by 

 promptly destroj^ing all the individuals which make their appearance, 

 and by keeping the moist places in houses free from any object behind 

 which it can conceal itself, or at least subjecting such locations to 

 freqent inspection. In places near water i)ipes, or in storerooms wbere 

 it may secrete itself and occur in some numbers, a free use of fresh 



pyrethrum powder is to be advised. 



C. L. M. 



