The literature on the parasites of centipedes was reviewed by Cloudsley-Thompson (1949) and additional data were provided by Remy (1950).

Ectoparasites

Acari

Like other arthropods, centipedes are frequently found to have mites attached to them but these have received little attention. The six-legged larvae of trombidiids occasionally attach themselves to the legs of centipedes. It seems that they feed on the host as their soft-skinned abdomens increase in size the longer they remain attached. Gamasid mites, which are normally free-living humus-dwellers, are sometimes specific parasites of myriapods: none are found on centipedes in South Africa although Antennophorus and related genera occur on tropical Scolopendras and ants in other parts of the world (Lawrence, 1953).

The resting stage (deutonymph or hypopus) of several species of Tyroglyphidae is found on the appendages of almost all orders of ground-living arthropods. They are minute and do not harm their hosts as they have no mouth parts for feeding; they attach themselves by means of suckers at the posterior end of the body (Fig. 208). Although they are not, strictly speaking, parasites it is convenient to deal with them here.

Lewis (1960) reported that the littoral geophilomorph Strigamia maritima frequently carried hypopi of the tyroglyphid Histiostoma sp. Specimens normally carried up to ten hypopi, the largest number on one specimen was 43, but the number often becomes much greater in laboratory cultures. Adolescens I Strigamia are far less heavily infested than other stages, possibly because they offer less suitable attachment sites due to their small size.