Western Yellow Centipede - Stigmatogaster subterranea

Alternative names
Haplophilus subterraneus
Description

This is the longest centipede found in the UK, it is yellow/orange and up to 70 mm long. It has between 77 and 83 pairs of legs.

Similar Species

There are several very similar species which can only be confidently identified using a key and a microscope or good lens.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

It is a 'geophilid' centipede which lives mainly in leaf litter but can also be found under stones.

When to see it

All year round.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly common in southern Britain at least, not well recorded elsewhere.

VC55 Status

Common in Leicestershire and Rutland where it has been recorded from at least 77 sites.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
Centipedes & Millipedes
Kingdom:
Animalia
Order:
Geophilomorpha
Family:
Himantariidae
Records on NatureSpot:
33
First record:
30/09/1987 (Adrian Rundle)
Last record:
07/02/2024 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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