One order lives in the soil and gets around by expanding and contracting its body, similar to how an earthworm moves. The house centipede is the fastest runner o all the centipedes. Some do grow rather large. Scolopendra gigantea of tropical Central and South America reaches 10 inches in length. The largest North American centipede is about 7 inches in length.
Centipedes are most common to temperate and tropical regions.
They are secretive, living under rocks, in burrows, and among soil debris, and prefer humid environments. They occur at a wide range of elevations. Centipedes of the Southwest prefer to hunt at night. This helps them avoid dehydration. They can also be seen during the day when the weather is cloudy or rainy.