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Scutigera coleoptrara, the house centipede, can bite, although bites are rare since their forcipules are not strong enough to penetrate human skin. The bite feels like a bee sting and can cause redness and mild to severe swelling. Of course, that means you'd have to be dumb enough to let one of these horrors get close enough to bite you - I'd be running the other way! BTW, this time of year the cooling weather forces them indoors to find shelter in human habitats. Oh, and house centipedes, many of which live their entire lives indoors, have an average life span of 3 to 7 years. Fortunately, they eat other pests such as roaches, flies, moths, bedbugs, and earwigs. So enjoy! The centipede can be your friend! (At a distance).
From quite a distance, now. I'm so outa that place. There were other bugs as well as these. I miss my little ranch, but the ex took it. Life continues. Well, now I know what a house centipede looks like. I thought I'd seen every manner of bug we had bere, but, learn something every day.
I knew from your description that it was a centipede. They always freak me out. And yes, they LOVE damp places like your attic. I am not too fond of millipedes, either. Yuck.
A man had adopted a centipede as a pet. Named him Penny. (Get it?) One gorgeous Fall day, he said, "Penny, I'm going for a walk; want to come along?" There was no response so he said again, a little louder, "Penny, want to go for a walk with me?" Still no reply so he called out, somewhat testily, "Penny, can't you hear me?" With that, he heard, "Holy cow! Can't you wait a minute? I'm putting on my shoes!"
I knew from your description that it was a centipede. They always freak me out. And yes, they LOVE damp places like your attic. I am not too fond of millipedes, either. Yuck.
I'd never seen a centipede like these. The ones I am familiar with are the regular, red colored, ones with the shorter legs , and they don't come in the house. Find them in old woodpiles a lot. These are just...creepy. lol. And I'm used to bugs. Well, they're a few full grades better than scorpions to have around. Scorpions like workboots. We always shake out our shoes. It's been a habit since I was very young.
I'm glad to be moved out of that place. It was an old, single wide mobile. Never felt homey to me. I'm in a nice roomy 1 bdrm apt now. 800 Sq feet, quite comfy, clean and homey feeling. My gf likes this way better too, and I'm only 5 min away now instead of 30. My honeydew list went up exponentially, but that's ok. Hers did to. Now she gets to help me decorate the new place, and no weird bugs.
I'd never seen a centipede like these. The ones I am familiar with are the regular, red colored, ones with the shorter legs , and they don't come in the house. Find them in old woodpiles a lot. These are just...creepy. lol. And I'm used to bugs. Well, they're a few full grades better than scorpions to have around. Scorpions like workboots. We always shake out our shoes. It's been a habit since I was very young.
I'm glad to be moved out of that place. It was an old, single wide mobile. Never felt homey to me. I'm in a nice roomy 1 bdrm apt now. 800 Sq feet, quite comfy, clean and homey feeling. My gf likes this way better too, and I'm only 5 min away now instead of 30. My honeydew list went up exponentially, but that's ok. Hers did to. Now she gets to help me decorate the new place, and no weird bugs.
And those suckers can move incredibly fast! <shudder>
And those suckers can move incredibly fast! <shudder>
I noticed that. Lol Quite agile for such an ungainly looking critter.
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Life continues. Well, now I know what a house centipede looks like. I thought I'd seen every manner of bug we had bere, but, learn something every day.
Now she gets to help me decorate the new place, and no weird bugs.
