Scolopendra laeta is a small centipede in the family Scolopendridae, found in Australia and New Guinea. It is typically dark black/ to reddish brown, and often with  2 parallel stripes going vertically along the length of it body generally with paler yellowish legs and a darker head. Adults are only a few centimetres long, making it much smaller than many other species in the genus Scolopendra.
This species is a fast, nocturnal predator that shelters during the day beneath bark, logs, rocks, and leaf litter, or in soil and shallow burrows. At night it hunts insects and other small invertebrates, using its speed, antennae, and venomous forcipules to capture prey.
It is a ground-dwelling centipede that can deliver a painful bite if handled or disturbed. Its small size, dark colouring, and quick movements make it easy to overlook in its range.