Boreal Yellow-headed Soil Centipede
Geophilus flavus
This slender centipede lives in damp soil, leaf litter, rotting wood, and beneath stones across boreal and temperate habitats. It spends most of its time moving through narrow underground crevices and hunts small soft-bodied invertebrates such as insect larvae, mites, and worms. Prey is subdued with venom-delivering forcipules, modified front legs that resemble fangs. Despite its many legs, it is harmless to people except for a minor defensive nip if handled roughly.
- Type
- Burrow / Venom
- Conservation status
- NE