Symphyla

Distinguished from centipedes by smaller size, lack of venomous forcipules, unpigmented soft body, and presence of 12 leg pairs rather than one pair per body segment; from millipedes by having legs on first body segment and only 12 leg pairs; from pauropods by larger size and distinct antennae; spinnerets on 13th segment and head spiracles are diagnostic

Soil-dwelling in moist terrestrial environments; found under stones, in decaying wood, deep soil, and crevices; optimal conditions include high organic matter content, good moisture-holding capacity, and ability to compact and form crevices; loam soils most favorable, pure sands and clays least suitable; occasionally found in trees and caves

Worldwide distribution; recorded from Europe (Denmark, Norway, Sweden), Australia, Asia (China, Vietnam), Africa, and the Americas; Australian species endemic but belong to widespread genera; both families (Scutigerellidae and Scolopendrellidae) known from Cretaceous Burmese amber indicating ancient distribution

Primarily herbivores and detritivores feeding on decaying vegetation, fungal hyphae, and organic matter; some species consume seeds, roots, and root hairs; at least one species (Symphylella) predominantly predatory; some species saprophagous

Development through hemianamorphosis: hatch with 6-7 leg pairs, adding one pair at each moult until adult instar with 12 leg pairs; continue moulting throughout life; lifespan up to four years reported; eggs laid in groups of 8-12 attached to crevices, moss, or lichen

Rapid runners moving quickly through soil pores; negative phototaxis; release silk from spinnerets for reproduction (males deposit spermatophores on silk stalks), defense, and suspension; females pick up spermatophores with mouth and store in specialized pouches before smearing sperm on eggs during laying

Soil decomposers contributing to organic matter breakdown and nutrient cycling; significant agricultural pests when abundant due to root feeding damage; prey for soil-dwelling predators

Agricultural pests: Scutigerella immaculata (garden symphylan) damages crops by feeding on seeds, roots, and root hairs; Hanseniella species reported as pests of sugar cane and pineapples in Queensland; populations can reach damaging levels in cultivated soils and greenhouses

• Chilopoda (centipedes)Superficially similar body form but possess venomous forcipules, one pair of legs per body segment, pigmented bodies, and eyes in most species
• Diplopoda (millipedes)Both soil-dwelling myriapods but millipedes have two leg pairs per body segment (except first segment), lack legs on first body segment, and have hardened bodies with many more segments
• PauropodaSmall soil myriapods but with only 9-10 leg pairs, branched antennae, and reduced body size

Common name 'garden centipede' is misleading as they are not centipedes and lack venom; morphological studies place them closer to millipedes and pauropods in Progoneata, though molecular studies show conflicting results

• soil arthropod
• myriapod
• detritivore
• agricultural pest
• hemianamorphosis

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Latest results of myriapod research from the 18th International Congress of Myriapodology | Blog
• How One Entomologist is Digging Deep Into Data on Insect Declines
• THE ECOLOGY OF SYMPHYLA
• The taxonomy and distribution of the Australian Symphyla
• A review of the Australian Symphyla (Myriapoda)
• Morphological and molecular identification of symphylans (Myriapoda, Symphyla) from Colombian pineapple crops, with descriptions of two new species.
• Four new species of Symphylella (Symphyla, Scolopendrellidae) from Chongqing, southwest China with DNA barcoding analysis.