Lithobius forficatus (Linnaeus,1758)

Lithobius is a difficult genus and at least 17 species are known from Britain and Ireland.

Lithobius forficatus is the familiar large brown centipede (to 30 mm) with >4 + >4 forcipular teeth and strong projections on tergites 9, 11 and 13. However, due to the presence of other ‘large brown’ Lithobius that also share these characters, such as L. pilicornis, it is not possible to reliably identify in the field and a voucher specimen should be collected for identification. 

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