Allothereua maculata

Allothereua maculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Chilopoda
Order:	Scutigeromorpha
Family:	Scutigeridae
Genus:	Allothereua
Species:	A. maculata
Binomial name
	Allothereua maculata; (Newport, 1844)
Synonyms
	Cermatia maculata Newport 1844; Scutigera maculata (Newport, 1844); Allothereua australiana (Newport, 1845); Allothereua latreillei (Newport, 1845) ; Allothereua simplex (Haase, 1887); Allothereua violacea (L. Koch, 1865);

Allothereua maculata is a species of centipedes found in Australia known as the house centipede – a name applied elsewhere to other species.[1]

Description

The body of Allothereua maculata is made up of 15 segments and bears 15 pairs of long legs.[1][2] The body is pale brown with dark markings, and grows to 20–25 millimetres (0.8–1.0 in) long.[2][1] It bears one pair of antennae on the head and a similarly long pair of caudal appendages at the tail end.[1]

Distribution

Allothereua maculata is the most common scutigeromorph centipede across southern Australia,[3] occurring from Western Australia to Queensland.[4]

Ecology

Allothereua maculata lives in urban areas and woodland.[3] Its occurrence in houses indicates dampness and a lack of ventilation.[2] A. maculata is a predator of insects and other arthropods, but is generally considered harmless.[1]

References

George Gordh, Gordon Gordh & David Headrick (2003). "House centipede". A Dictionary of Entomology. CAB International. p. 454. ISBN 978-0-85199-655-4.
John Gerozisis & Ion Staunton (2009). "Spiders, mites, ticks and related arthropods". Urban Pest Management in Australia (5th ed.). University of New South Wales Press. pp. 208–229. ISBN 978-0-86840-894-1.
"House centipede fact file". Wildlife of Sydney. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
"Species Allothereua maculata (Newport, 1844)". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 9 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2011.

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[Gordh-1] George Gordh, Gordon Gordh & David Headrick (2003). "House centipede". A Dictionary of Entomology. CAB International. p. 454. ISBN 978-0-85199-655-4.

[Gerozisis-2] John Gerozisis & Ion Staunton (2009). "Spiders, mites, ticks and related arthropods". Urban Pest Management in Australia (5th ed.). University of New South Wales Press. pp. 208–229. ISBN 978-0-86840-894-1.

[Sydney-3] "House centipede fact file". Wildlife of Sydney. Archived from the original on 30 September 2009. Retrieved 1 June 2011.

[4] "Species Allothereua maculata (Newport, 1844)". Australian Faunal Directory. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. 9 October 2008. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2011.