New Pond - What is the Red Centipede ?

[AndrewA123]

Hi All,

I've just set up a brand new pond 2 weeks ago, and last week added a small selection of plants. The pond is intended as a Wildlife Pond, and as such has no filters, pumps etc.

When looking last night to see if anything had taken up residence, having already seen a couple of Damsel Flies around, I noticed in the small amount of dirt/soil in the bottom of the deepest section (approx 18") was a Red Centipede. It has not moved since I spotted it, so I suspect it could be a "Land Dwelling" Centipede that has fallen in, but wanted any advice.

Details are:

approx 1.5" long
approx 14 sets of legs (although I've since read that centipedes ALWAYS have an odd number of sets so could be 13 or 15 )
Red in colour
2 antenae/pincers at the front

No photo's yet.

In addition there is what appears to be a caddisfly Lavea which is certainly active. presumably this was inside on of the plant pots I purchased.

There is also a small common frog which jumped out on me while trying to get a closer look at the centipede

Thanks In Advance!

[King Edward]

Sounds like an ordinary garden centipede that fell in and drowned. Try looking up Lithobius.

[AndrewA123]

That's what I'm thinking, that does seem to match it very well, and I can't find any other reference of centipedes in ponds, but thought I'd ask the wise ones on here before fishing it out

Cheers!