Indian Tiger Centipede
Scolopendra hardwickei
Large (15-20cm) carnivorous myriapod with 21 pairs of legs, orange-brown body with dark bands on each segment. Nocturnal predator found in damp areas — bathrooms, drain chambers, beneath pots, and in stored cardboard boxes. Fast runner (up to 50cm/sec). Bites with modified front legs (forcipules) — venom is painful but not life-threatening to adults. Sensitive to humidity — peaks during monsoon and in poorly ventilated ground-floor flats.
What to look for
Evidence around the property
Risk assessment
Plan a controlled response. These pests usually need targeted treatment before they spread.
Bite causes immediate intense local pain, swelling, and redness lasting 12-48 hours. Some species cause systemic symptoms (nausea, dizziness, lymph node swelling). Allergic reactions possible. Children and elderly more sensitive. Bites rarely require hospitalisation but always require wound cleaning and pain management.
Practical steps before treatment
Surface Disinfection & Sanitisation
Hospital-grade ULV fogging for move-in, post-illness, or outbreak response. 99.9% pathogen kill.
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