stone centipedes

(order Lithobiomorpha)

Overview  •  Description  •  Distribution  •  Taxonomy

Overview

Lithobiomorpha, called stone centipedes, is one of five orders of centipedes. There are about 1,500 described species worldwide. They are very common and widespread, occurring on every continent except Antarctica and Greenland. They are often found under mulch, leaves, logs, rocks, and stones, for which they get their common name. They feed on insects, spiders, and other arthropods, including sowbugs and millipedes. Like all centipedes, they have poison-bearing claws beneath their head. Large individuals can deliver a painful bite.
 
stone centipede (order Lithobiomorpha)
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 
Description

Mature stone centipedes have 18 segments, 15 of which bare an upper exoskeletal plate (tergite) and a single pair of legs. The tergites on segments 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, and 14 are much longer than those on the remaining segments. There are no compound eyes but there a single simple eye (ocellus) or a small group of ocelli. The breathing pores (spiracles) are in pairs on the sides of the segments. The antennae are relatively short.
Distribution

Distribution Map

  

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82.
6/22/2025    
Taxonomy

Subphylum

Myriapoda (myriapods)

Class

Chilopoda (centipedes)
   

Subordinate Taxa

Family Henicopidae

Family Lithobiidae

   

Synonyms

Lithobiida
   

Common Names

stone centipedes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Alfredo Colon
stone centipede (order Lithobiomorpha)   stone centipede (order Lithobiomorpha)
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Other Videos

Lithobiomorpha - Stone Centipede - A Red River
TheTyro
About

Feb 7, 2012

I found myself a Stone Centipede today. I don't really get to see them too often on account of how fast they are to run away. :P I do know this isn't the largest specimen I've ever encountered. They are fascinating predators! The feeling of holding them as they crawl around is really interesting...I think it'd be cool to have a large , tropical species.

Stone Centipedes eating crickets
Mark Steudel
About

Jun 12, 2013

Stone Centipedes ( Lithobiomorpha ) attacking crickets. See http://bugguide.net/node/view/13169/b... for more information

 

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Alfredo Colon
6/10/2018

Location: Woodbury, Minnesota

stone centipede (order Lithobiomorpha)
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Created: 1/22/2020

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