Allothereua maculata
| Allothereua maculata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Myriapoda |
| Class: | Chilopoda |
| Order: | Scutigeromorpha |
| Family: | Scutigeridae |
| Genus: | Allothereua |
| Species: | A. maculata
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| Binomial name | |
| Allothereua maculata (Newport, 1844)
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| Synonyms | |
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Allothereua maculata is a species of centipedes found in Australia known as the house centipede – a name applied elsewhere to other species.[1]
Description
[edit]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. These organisms have a lot of small hairs and spindle-like bodies so scientists Haase and Heathcote believed that these features can behave as an organ but later discovered that it is not true; they have other functions. There was only limited research done but they understand that it was probably created to help with adaption.[1]
Distribution
[edit]Allothereua maculata is the most common scutigeromorph centipede across southern Australia,[3] occurring from Western Australia to Queensland.[4]
Ecology
[edit]Allothereua maculata lives in urban areas and woodland.[3] Its occurrence in houses indicates that it prefers dampness and a lack of ventilation.[2] A. maculata is a predator of insects and other arthropods, but is generally considered harmless.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e George Gordh, Gordon Gordh & David Headrick (2003). "House centipede". A Dictionary of Entomology. CAB International. p. 454. ISBN 978-0-85199-655-4.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b "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.
Hilken, & Rosenberg, J. (2006). Ultrastructure of the maxillary organ ofScutigera coleoptrata (Chilopoda, Notostigmophora): Description of a multifunctional head organ. Journal of Morphology., 267(2), 152–165. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.10392