What do centipedes primarily feed on?

Centipedes are primarily carnivorous and have a diet that mainly consists of live insects. They are agile predators, using their venomous claws to capture and subdue their prey, which typically includes various types of insects and other small arthropods. The ability to hunt live prey is a crucial aspect of their survival and contributes to their role in the ecosystem as effective pest controllers.

In this context, their feeding habits are integral to understanding their behavior and ecological niche. As centipedes are not vegetarians, they have no biological mechanisms to digest plant materials, nor do they feed on fungi or dead plant matter, which distinguishes them from other organisms that could be involved in decomposing organic material. This carnivorous diet highlights their importance in managing populations of other insects within their environment.