They are usually brownish, flattened animals with many body segments. Most of the body segments have one pair of legs. Centipedes are fast runners and may vary in length from one to six inches. Centipedes have poorly developed eyes and are most active at night. They are active predators and feed mainly on insects and spiders.
All centipedes have venom glands to immobilize their prey.
Centipedes are usually associated with damp, dark places such as under stones, leaf litter, logs, bark or soil crevices. Indoors they may be found in closets and bathrooms where there is high humidity. Centipedes usually lay 15-55 eggs clustered together in the soil although the eggs of some species are laid singly. The eggs hatch soon after they are deposited. The female will usually guard the eggs and the newly hatched young.