SCOLOPENDRA, in natural history, centipede, a genus of insects of the order Aptera. Antenna setaceous ; two feel ers filiform, united between the jaws ; lip toothed and cleft ; body long, depress ed, consisting of numerous transverse segments: legs numerous, as many on each side as there are segments of the body. There are thirteen species, found in almost all parts of the world; they live in decayed wood, or under stones, and some of them in fresh and salt water: they prey on other insects. The larger species are found only in the hotter re gions of the globe ; they are insects of a terrific appearance, and possess the power of inflicting severe pain and in flammation by their bite.
S. morsitans is a native of Asia, Africa, and South America. it is eight or ten inches long, of a yellowish brown ; the head is armed on each side with a very large curved fang, of a strong or horny nature ; these fangs are furnished on the inside, near the tip, with an oblong slit, through which, during the act of wounding, an acrimonious or poisonous fluid is discharged ; the eyes are nu merous on each side the head, and are placed in a small oval group ; it has twenty legs on each side of the body.
S. electrica has seventy legs on each side ; its body is linear ; it inhabits many parts of Europe, in decayed wood, and shines in the dark ; the body is very flat and tawny, with a black line down the back The motions of this insect are tor tuous and undulatory, seldom continuing long in the same direction. It is possessed of a high degree of phosphoric splendour, which, however, seems to be only exert ed when the animal is pressed or sudden ly disturbed, when it diffuses a beautiful light, so powerful as not to be obliterat ed by that of two candles on the same table. It is very tenacious of life, and will endure long in the closest confine ment without food.
S. forficata is a very common insect, found frequently under stones and flow er-pots ; it has a very swift motion, and is furnished with fifteen legs on each side ; it is of a chesnut colour, and is about an inch and a half long.