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Anonymous
S. coleoptrata is indigenous to the Mediterranean region, but it has spread through much of Europe, Asia, and North America. In the United States, it has spread from the southern states, Mexico and Guatemala. It reached Pennsylvania in 1849, New York in 1885, and Massachusetts about 1890, and it now extends westward to the California coast and reaches north into Canada (Lewis 1981). In South Africa, they have been found in Gordon's Bay near Cape Town. In Japan, these creatures are referred to as gejigeji[4] and enjoy a level of popularity. They can often be seen for sale in pet stores.
They have also been found in eastern and south-eastern Australia, from Sydney to Tasmania as well as in New Zealand. Due to their nature of living in cool dark places with long lifespans, they have become an incredibly invasive species. The largest recorded specimen is 6 1/2 inches.
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