Allothereua maculata
{{Short description|Species of arthropod}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2011}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Allothereua maculata cropped.jpg
| genus = Allothereua
| species = maculata
| authority = (Newport, 1844)
| synonyms=
- Cermatia maculata Newport 1844
- Scutigera maculata (Newport, 1844)
- {{nowrap|Allothereua australiana (Newport, 1845)}}
- Allothereua latreillei (Newport, 1845)
- Allothereua simplex (Haase, 1887)
- Allothereua violacea (L. Koch, 1865)
}}
Allothereua maculata is a species of centipedes found in Australia known as the house centipede – a name applied elsewhere to other species.
Description
The body of Allothereua maculata is made up of 15 segments and bears 15 pairs of long legs. The body is pale brown with dark markings, and grows to {{convert|20|-|25|mm|1}} long.{{cite book |author=John Gerozisis & Ion Staunton |year=2009 |title=Urban Pest Management in Australia |edition=5th |publisher=University of New South Wales Press |isbn=978-0-86840-894-1 |chapter=Spiders, mites, ticks and related arthropods |pages=208–229 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yyFqiIG_aacC&pg=PA225}}{{cite book |author=George Gordh, Gordon Gordh & David Headrick |year=2003 |title=A Dictionary of Entomology |publisher=CAB International |isbn=978-0-85199-655-4 |chapter=House centipede |page=454 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d0XSwMJLDg4C&pg=PA454}} 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.
Distribution
Allothereua maculata is the most common scutigeromorph centipede across southern Australia,{{cite web |url=http://www.faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=98 |work=Wildlife of Sydney |title=House centipede fact file |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930022127/http://faunanet.gov.au/wos/factfile.cfm?Fact_ID=98 |archive-date=30 September 2009 |access-date=1 June 2011}} occurring from Western Australia to Queensland.{{cite web |work=Australian Faunal Directory |title=Species Allothereua maculata (Newport, 1844) |date=9 October 2008 |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Allothereua_maculata |publisher=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923135656/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/taxa/Allothereua_maculata |archive-date=23 September 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Ecology
Allothereua maculata lives in urban areas and woodland. Its occurrence in houses indicates that it prefers dampness and a lack of ventilation. A. maculata is a predator of insects and other arthropods, but is generally considered harmless.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3809327}}
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
Category:Centipedes of Australia
Category:Animals described in 1844