# What is this 28-legged monster in my kitchen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421 "2009-01-08T20:51:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/21 "2009-01-08T23:12:13Z")
This is why everybody should own a [bearded dragon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bearded_dragon). If you don’t want to catch it, Fido will gleefully eat it for you. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/22 "2009-01-09T00:54:08Z")
When I saw the title I immediately assumed you had encountered a less than pleasing table and six chairs ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/23 "2009-01-09T01:10:21Z")
That would be a monstrosity, not a monster. It is true, though, that my table and chairs are very ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Henrichek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5daacb/32.png) [@Henrichek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henrichek)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/24 "2009-01-09T01:38:02Z")
I prefer the bat-eating variant which catches their pray in flight. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UROVfmY3NTA/hqdefault.jpg "Giant Bat-Eating Centipede") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UROVfmY3NTA) ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/25 "2009-01-09T04:40:02Z")
Has anyone seen the video of one eating a mouse? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/26 "2009-01-09T05:09:13Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Has anyone seen the video of one eating a mouse? 😃 See post #14 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/27 "2009-01-09T05:12:13Z")
> [@astro](#): > > If you’ve got a mouse problem [they can help with that too.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CL2hetqpfg) I knew what that link was going to show before I clicked on it; so why did I click on it? _sob_ ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/28 "2009-01-09T05:53:05Z")
They’re good and friendly; leave 'em alone! (Well, not friendly exactly–I understand that they’ll bite if provoked. But they mostly mind their own business.) I actually think they’re rather pretty and elegant, with all of those long, spindly legs. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/29 "2009-01-09T06:01:50Z")
I used to get those in my apartment when I lived in Maryland. They’re horrible creatures, and move really fast, which makes it hard to trap them. I’m kind to almost all living creatures - spiders, most bugs & insects, bees, etc. But these things are HIDEOUS and I have been known to unload a whole can of bug spray on these things!! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/30 "2009-01-09T15:20:47Z")
Should anyone be worried, ours left the apartment alive. I couldn’t bring myself to go near it and **Mr. Mallard** has a no-kill policy for beneficial creepy-crawlies. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/31 "2009-01-09T15:58:35Z")
I despise them. I won’t watch the video. They show up in my house. Killing them is gross too because they splatter. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/32 "2009-01-09T16:22:20Z")
This discussion made me spontaneously think of [this film](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hellstrom_Chronicle), which I saw when I was just knee-high to a grasshopper. The only segment of the film that I remember clearly involved the film crew planting big, gross bugs in the produce section of a supermarket and filming people’s reactions as they overturned a melon or head of lettuce and saw a huge creepy-crawly suddenly scurry out from underneath it. Too bad it’s never been re-released on disc—I wouldn’t mind seeing it again. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/33 "2009-01-09T16:36:26Z")
I’ve posted this before, but… Yup. Hey, here’s a nice picture: [http://www.sasionline.org/CENTIPEDE/pages/scolo2.html](http://www.sasionline.org/CENTIPEDE/pages/scolo2.html) Here’s something to think about; Have a look at that 6-inch centipede “nursing” its young. Now imagine it’s tonight and you’re going to bed. You get into your pyjamas or whatever, turn off the lights, and hop into bed. But what you didn’t know is that that mother centipede is in your bed, curled up with her hideous offspring. Your leg comes down on her and the babies, panicked, run in every direction, through your pyjamas, dozens of them all over you, down your legs, up your torso, in your crotch, their little legs running over your skin, and you slap at them but you can’t get them all, they’re too fast, and some are coming up towards your FACE… … and the mother clenches onto you with all her strength, and she bites, and bites, and bites. Sweet dreams! ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/34 "2009-01-09T18:20:49Z")
Once when I was in class in high school, I was holding my biology book and looking at a picture of a centipede, completely engrossed. Part of the paper book cover was hanging down, and it very, very lightly brushed my fingers. I threw the book two feet up in the air, and it fell back down in my hands in the same position. I don’t think anyone saw me. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/35 "2009-01-09T18:31:59Z")
Bugs are not a big deal until the get on me at night while sleeping. Then… ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/36 "2009-01-09T18:46:35Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’ve posted this before, but… > > Yup. > > Hey, here’s a nice picture: > > [http://www.sasionline.org/CENTIPEDE/pages/scolo2.html](http://www.sasionline.org/CENTIPEDE/pages/scolo2.html) > > Here’s something to think about; Have a look at that 6-inch centipede “nursing” its young. > > Now imagine it’s tonight and you’re going to bed. You get into your pyjamas or whatever, turn off the lights, and hop into bed. But what you didn’t know is that that mother centipede is in your bed, curled up with her hideous offspring. Your leg comes down on her and the babies, panicked, run in every direction, through your pyjamas, dozens of them all over you, down your legs, up your torso, in your crotch, their little legs running over your skin, and you slap at them but you can’t get them all, they’re too fast, and some are coming up towards your FACE… > > … and the mother clenches onto you with all her strength, and she bites, and bites, and bites. > > Sweet dreams! Www! The babies are kind of cute! Mama, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/37 "2009-01-09T18:52:46Z")
[http://oldcoyote.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/home-centipede.jpg](http://oldcoyote.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/home-centipede.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/38 "2009-01-09T18:59:44Z")
> [@Uncommon\_Sense](#): > > [http://oldcoyote.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/home-centipede.jpg](http://oldcoyote.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/home-centipede.jpg) You know, that was almost kind of …cute, the way his beady little eyes are staring right into your soul. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/39 "2009-01-09T20:25:26Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > I used to get those in my apartment when I lived in Maryland. They’re horrible creatures, and move really fast, which makes it hard to trap them. Yes, there hasn’t been much emphasis on their speed in this discussion. They are _fast_ and almost ghostly – their coloration blends in beautifully with most carpeting, and they go like hell, almost floating on those long rippling legs. Here’s [another good shot](http://www.flickr.com/photos/imarsman/20589493/) to get a sense of what one looks like when it stops moving. When I found these things in a commercial building in Virginia, I had never seen them before. At first, all I saw was flickers of movement on the carpet (a speckled tan and dark carpet, no less! They were all-but-invisible). Eventually I caught one in a glass. I thought all centipedes were flat, shiny-bodied, and horizontal-legged, so I didn’t even think it could be a centipede. I thought I’d found an animal so unusual I’d never heard of it. I actually started to wonder if I should bring it to someone’s attention! Then I looked in a book – not a very good book, a kids’ book of North American Animals that only had a few pages devoted to arthropods. One of the very few pictures they showed was clearly this thing – not JUST a centipede, but the Common House Centipede. How mundane can a name get? Very embarrassing, as I try hard to know as much as I can about the natural world, and I’ve rolled my eyes at people who couldn’t identify common birds and bugs before. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421/40 "2009-01-09T20:41:12Z")
> [@Uncommon\_Sense](#): > > [http://oldcoyote.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/home-centipede.jpg](http://oldcoyote.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/home-centipede.jpg) That’s nice. I made it my desktop wallpaper to scare people who come into my office! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-28-legged-monster-in-my-kitchen/480421.md?page=3)