Geophilus flavus (De Geer, 1778)

Synonyms

Necrophloeophagus longicornis (Leach, 1814)

Status:

GB IUCN status: Least Concern

ID Difficulty

Identification

Ten species of Geophilus are known from Britain and Ireland. 

Geophilus flavus is a large (to 45 mm) distinctly yellowish centipede with a darker reddish head, with 49 to 57 pairs of legs.  It is similar in appearance to the coastal G. seurati and the south-western G. osquidatum, but lacks the carpophagus fossae on the sternites seen in these latter two species (and most other species of Geophilus).

More information to allow accurate identification is given in the published identification keys by Tony Barber (2008 & 2009).

J.P. Richards
J.P. Richards
J.P. Richards
Dick Jones
R.E. Jones
Andy Keay
Andy Keay
Andy Keay
Keith Lugg
J.P. Richards
Warren Maguire
Nicola Garnham

Distribution

Geophilus flavus is a very common species across much of Ireland and Britain (but not recorded from the northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland). 

Habitat

It is found in a wide array of both rural and urban habitats, including the sea-shore. It can be readily found under stones, deadwood, etc. 

This account is based on the 'Centipede Atlas' (Barber, 2022).

BRC code

16

idBmigTaxa

Cen_141