Lancashire lady unearths uncommon venomous centipede in flat

A tender lady has spoken of her surprise after discovering a venomous centipede in her flat.

Orlaith Armour mentioned she noticed the “strange creature” on her kitchen wall after she returned from a past due shift at Wetherspoons.

The 19-year-old later discovered the many-legged minibeast used to be a unprecedented Scutigera coleoptrata, which makes use of venom to kill its prey however isn’t destructive to people.

“I had never seen anything like it before. After asking my co-workers, we figured out it was a house centipede,” she mentioned.

Steve Gregory, who runs the British Myriapod and Isopod Group’s recording scheme, mentioned the Scutigera coleoptrata used to be repeatedly referred to as the home centipede.

He mentioned the species originates from the Mediterranean and, at this time, can simplest live to tell the tale our chilly winters within structures.

Mr Gregory mentioned sightings of the insect, which makes use of its venom to subdue and feed on flies and spiders, are changing into extra not unusual in Britain.

He added that individuals who finally end up accidentally housing one don’t now not want to concern as they don’t seem to be unhealthy to people.

“Although once very rare, it is expanding its range, possibly due to climate change,” he mentioned.

“There were only three known sightings up to 1990, about 30 sighting between 1990 and 2020, and in 2024 there were over triple this number.

“These are most commonly from southern England, however in recent times it’s been noticed as a long way north as Lancashire and Yorkshire.”

Ms Armour, who moved to Lytham St Annes from Scotland two years ago, said she enlisted a brave colleague to help her catch the creature and released it.

“From what I’ve discovered, space centipedes are risk free and in reality really useful as a result of they prey on different family pests,” she mentioned.