The Brown Stone Centipede (Lithobius melanops) is dark brown to nearly black with lighter legs and typically measures 0.75–1.25 inches. The Brown Stone Centipede (Lithobius melanops) is a member of the Lithobiomorpha order, closely related to the Stone Centipede (Lithobius forficatus) but darker in coloration and slightly smaller. It is dark brown to nea.

The Brown Stone Centipede can technically bite but is considered low-risk. Extremely low risk to humans. Forcipules rarely penetrate skin. If a bite occurs, it produces minor, short-lived localized irritation. Not medically significant.

In Arizona, brown stone centipedes are most often found in these situations: Small (0.75–1.25 inch) dark brown to blackish centipede with 15 leg pairs found under rocks, bark, and garden debris. Fast-moving when disturbed. Occasionally found in bathrooms and basements. Common in moist garden areas.

The Brown Stone Centipede is most active during: Year-round in Arizona; most active spring through fall. Arizona's warm desert climate can extend activity compared to cooler states, and monsoon season (July–September) often drives centipedes indoors as moisture levels rise.

Remove rock piles, bark mulch, and leaf litter from the home perimeter. Reduce moisture in garden beds and near the foundation. Seal gaps under doors and around pipe penetrations. Fix leaky irrigation.

Perimeter treatments targeting moist harborage areas. Moisture reduction is the most effective long-term control. Pest Control Bros can inspect and recommend a combined moisture management and treatment plan if indoor sightings are frequent.

Often, yes. Centipedes are predators — they follow their food supply. Finding brown stone centipedes indoors frequently suggests an underlying population of the insects and arthropods they hunt: cockroaches, silverfish, spiders, ants, or other small invertebrates. Pest Control Bros will inspect for both the centipedes and the prey species driving them indoors, addressing the root cause rather than just the symptom.