Class Chilopoda—Centipedes 
Centipedes are wormlike animals with elongate, flattened, segmented bodies. 
They have 15 or more pairs of strong legs, one pair per segment. The antennae have 
14 or more segments, and the appendages of the first body segment behind the head 
are Clawlike and function as poison jaws. The last two pairs of legs at the posterior 
of the body are directed backward. Centipedes are usually found under bark, in 
rotting logs, or under stones or boards. They are swift runners and feed on various 
small animals such as snails, insects, and spiders. All species possess poison jaws 
with which to paralyze their prey. They will also bite humans. 
The largest centipedes belong to the family Scolopendridae, some of which may 
be more than 30 cm long. The largest species found in the United States, however, 
is only 12.5 cm long. Members of this family are also the most venomous of all 
centipedes. The bite of the largest ones is not only quite painful but also occasion- 
ally fatal (/40). The larger and more dangerous species are southern in distribution; 
those occurring in the North are usually too small to be harmful to humans. The 
centipedes of New York have been reviewed (37). 
The removal of debris used as hiding places is helpful in centipede control. 
Class Arachnida—Scorpions, Spiders, Mites, 
Ticks, and Allies 
The class Arachnida is a large group of air-breathing arthropods whose bodies 
usually comprise two regions: (1) the cephalothorax, and (2) the abdomen. They 
generally have six pairs of appendages (the chelicera, pedipalps, and four pairs of 
legs) but are without antennae. 
Order Scorpiones—Scorpions 
Scorpions are fairly common in the Eastern United States, especially in the 
South. However, because they are active only at night and usually remain hidden 
during the day, they are seldom seen. Indoors, they usually hide in such places as 
closets, attics, folded blankets, shoes, and papers. Scorpions vary considerably in 
size, ranging from about | to 18 cm long. The abdomen is divided into a large 
anterior portion of seven segments and a long, narrow taillike posterior portion of 
five segments. The latter ends in a vesicle that bears a poisonous sting. When a 
scorpion runs, it holds its large clawlike pedipalps forward, and the posterior end, 
bearing the sting, is usually curved upward. 
Scorpions are capable of inflicting painful but rarely fatal stings. Very young and 
very old people appear to be the most vulnerable. Scorpions’ food consists of a 
wide variety of animal life including other scorpions, spiders, flies, beetles, 
cockroaches, grasshoppers, crickets, termites, centipedes, and earthworms. A 
common species in many parts of the Eastern United States is Centruroides vittatus 
(Say), the so-called striped scorpion (fig. 9). This 1s a fairly small species, being 
only about 58 to 60 mm long. Its sting results in a sharp pain that usually lasts about 
15 to 20 minutes. Stings inflicted from late March to early May, however, may 
remain painful for several hours (36). 
Scorpions may be trapped during dry seasons by spreading wet burlap bags on 
the ground in infested areas. 
Order Pseudoscorpiones—Pseudoscorpions 
Pseudoscorpions bear a striking resemblance to their larger relatives, the true 
scorpions, but differ in having wider, shorter abdomens and no terminal poison 
glands. They are seldom more than 5 mm long. 
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