Quote:
Originally Posted by Supple Cow
House centipedes give me the WILLIES, but I do realize how they are ecologically my friends. I think they get a new pair of legs every time they molt or something, and I've just never been good with small creatures that have too many legs. They are pretty gnarly looking and I am a bit too squeamish to just leave 'em running around. I try to at least shoo them outside with a broom.
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In the summer that's okay. In the winter they'll die anyway, so you might as well just squish 'em and be done with it.
Centipedes will naturally gravitate toward their preferred climate and if they have a source of food (ie your household pest of choice) they'll thrive. If you can't attract any naturally, however, firmer action may be necessary.
If one is looking to cultivate centipedes, the easiest (and only) way I know of would be to hunt them. They like damp, dark areas and are frequently found underneath rocks or in rotting logs. They may be found any time of the year other than winter, but are typically most active in spring as it's their mating season. They're quick little buggers, but you probably won't need too many; they can live for the better part of a decade.
Care should be taken to make sure you collect the correct centipedes. While most are harmless to humans, some of the larger types carry a venom that can be quite unpleasant. All but the largest house centipedes are unable to penetrate human skin and their venom is no worse than a bee sting; furthermore, they only bite humans when they feel threatened, since we're not food. So if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone (the same goes for spiders, incidentally).
They will naturally want to be in their preferred environment. Dark areas with some moisture and hidey-holes would be best. If you disturb them while they're doing their thing they will most likely scurry out of the way (they have excellent eyesight, relatively speaking); best just to leave them be.
The house centipede is easily identified by three black stripes running down it's back. If you find something you believe to be a centipede but it doesn't have any stripes, leave it alone. At best you'll do it a disservice by moving it. At worst it could be harmful, although that only really applies to tropical and subtropical climates.
As an aside, they do indeed gain legs every molt; two on the first and four every molt thereafter.
GIS piccy for reference:
I loves me some creepy crawlies.