Stone centipede facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stone centipede
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Chilopoda
Order:	Lithobiomorpha
Family:	Lithobiidae
Genus:	Lithobius
Species:	L. microps
Binomial name
Lithobius microps Meinert, 1868
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The stone centipede, also known as Lithobius microps, is a small, speedy centipede. In the United States, it's sometimes called Delcore's centipede. These fascinating creatures belong to the Lithobiidae family. You can find them in places like the Northeast United States, England, and South Wales.

What Does It Look Like?

The stone centipede is usually a reddish color. It's known for being very fast! In Britain, it's one of the smallest centipedes you might find.

Stone Centipedes in the United States

In the United States, this centipede is often called Delcore's centipede. They are very common in the Northeast, especially in states like New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Size and Appearance

Delcore's centipede is usually quite small. It can be about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long, but sometimes grows up to 2 inches (5 cm). They can appear red or orange.

Speed and Behavior

These centipedes have small poison claws near their head. But don't worry, they rarely bite people if you handle them carefully. They are incredibly fast, probably one of the fastest centipedes around! This makes them quite tricky to catch. They like to stay hidden under things or burrow into the dirt.

Where They Live

Stone centipedes love to hide in many places. You can find them under wood, stones, and rocks. They also like to hide under small buildings like dog houses or sheds. They are very common in gardens and in old or rotting wood.

Sometimes, you might see them in basements during winter. However, they usually prefer to stay outside in the dirt. They might dig a burrow to hibernate, which means they go into a deep sleep for the winter.

You might see them on warm days in December or January. They usually come out more often in April, or when the weather starts to get warmer. They are known to live in Southern New England and New York.