Scolopendra - description and photo, danger to humans

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Scolopendra is a fast-moving predatory insect. It is widespread throughout the planet; its favorite habitats are damp and cool places. A comfortable time of day for her is night. Dexterity and speed help the scolopendra to obtain food for itself, which it constantly requires.

Origin of the species and description

Photo: Scolopendra

Scolopendra is an insect from the genus of tracheal arthropods. There are a huge number of varieties of scolopendra, and some species have not been studied to this day. The centipede can live both in wild conditions, forests and caves, and in domestic ones. The inhabitants of the house are also called flycatchers. It does not cause harm to the owners of the house, but helps get rid of other annoying insects.

Video: Scolopendra

The centipede is a representative of the most ancient insects on the planet. This insect evolved into the form it has now many years ago. Scientists have discovered a fossilized specimen that lived 428 million years ago. During molecular analysis, scientists found that the separation of the main groups of centipedes occurred back in the Cambrian period. According to the latest research conducted in 2005, P. newmani was the oldest animal discovered.

Compared to other insects, scolopendras are long-lived, some individuals live up to 7 years. Although on average an individual lives for two years. The growth of the insect continues throughout its life, although in some individuals growth ends at puberty. The main uniqueness of scolopendra is the regeneration of limbs. Lost paws grow back after molting, but may differ in size, new limbs are shorter than the previous ones and weaker.

Prevention measures

If you take some preventative measures, insects such as centipedes will never appear in your house. All you need is:

• Get rid of everything that could be a comfortable breeding ground for these insects.
• If there is a toilet in the yard, it is better to regularly fill it with sawdust and ash.
• Bring the house into a normal sanitary condition so that insects that centipedes feed on cannot appear in it.
• Dry all rooms, getting rid of unwanted high humidity, which attracts not only centipedes.
• Make sure that there are no holes or cracks in the house through which insects can enter the house.
• Use boric acid powder to control insects by scattering it in problem areas.
• It is advisable to close the bathroom and sinks with special plugs at night.
• If the floors are wooden, then it is better to treat them with parquet mastic.

Despite its frightening appearance, with which the scolopendra scares household members, you should not be afraid of it, but on the contrary, you need to make sure that this insect remains alive. At the same time, you should think carefully about why she became interested in housing. It is quite possible that it is time to start fighting with other uninvited guests by starting a general cleaning of all premises.

Scolopendra bite!

Appearance and features

Photo: What scolopendra looks like

Scolopendra has a soft body; the main component of the exoskeleton is chitin. Therefore, like other invertebrates, it molts, shedding its shell as it grows. Thus, a young individual changes its “clothes” once every two months, an adult – twice a year.

Centipedes vary in size. Typically the body length is 6 cm, but there are species whose length is 30 cm. The body of the scolopendra is divided into the head and torso and has about 20 segments (from 21 to 23). The first two segments are colored in a color that differs from the main color of the centipede, and do not have. The ends of the limbs are a spike. The limb contains a gland with poison.

Interesting fact: If a scolopendra runs across the human body, it will leave a slippery and burning trail.

The head of the centipede is composed of one plate, on which there are eyes, two antennae and poisonous jaws, with the help of which it attacks prey. All other segments of the body have a pair of limbs. The centipede uses its last pair of legs for reproduction and hunting for large prey. They serve as her anchor.

The color of the centipede varies: from different shades of brown to green. There are also purple and blue individuals. The color of an insect does not depend on the species. Scolopendra changes colors depending on the age and climate in which it lives.

What to do if you are bitten

First of all, of course, it is best to simply prevent the scolopendra from biting you. She herself is unlikely to specifically attack a person, but she can bite in a state of fright and self-defense. Very often, scolopendras have a bad habit of crawling into tourists’ tents, so to avoid unwanted guests:

• use a closed tent with a zipper, and even such a tent should not be left open unattended.
• Inspect your tent thoroughly before going to bed.
• In the morning, check your clothes and things for the presence of scolopendras, they like to arrange a shelter for themselves in these items.
• Also remain vigilant when turning over stones or collecting dry branches, as centipedes may be hiding there.

If it does happen that scolopendra runs across a person’s skin, leaving a mark in the form of an inflamed stripe, measures should be taken immediately:

• wash the affected area with soap and water or disinfect with alcohol.
• then apply a sterile bandage.
• to drink a lot of water.
• provide peace to the victim.
• Do not drink alcohol under any circumstances (it speeds up the body’s metabolism, and with it the effect of scolopendra poison).
• It is highly advisable to consult a doctor for professional medical help.

If a scolopendra has bitten a pregnant woman, a child, an elderly person, a person suffering from cardiovascular diseases or prone to allergic reactions, then immediately going to the hospital for professional medical help is mandatory!

Where does scolopendra live?

Photo: Crimean scolopendra

Scolopendra can be found in all climatic regions. However, their population is especially expanded in places with warm climates: tropical forests of Central and South America, in the equatorial part of Africa, in southern Europe and Asia. Giant centipedes live only in tropical climates; their favorite place is the Seychelles. Centipedes live in forests, on mountain peaks, in dry, hot deserts, and in rocky caves. Individuals that live in regions with temperate climates do not grow large in size.

Interesting fact: It will not be possible to meet a giant scolopendra in our regions, since only small representatives of this species of arthropod live here.

Scolopendras prefer night life because they do not like bright light. They can't stand the heat, although they don't like rain either. Whenever possible, they choose people's houses as their homes. Here they can most often be found in a dark, damp basement.

In their natural environment, centipedes live in moist, dark places, most often in the shade under foliage. Ideal places for centipedes to exist are rotting tree trunks, litter of fallen leaves, the bark of old trees, crevices in rocks, and caves. During the cold season, centipedes take refuge in warm places.

Now you know where scolopendra is found. Let's see what this insect eats.

Danger to humans

Regarding the danger of scolopendra to humans, the giant scolopendra that lives in the jungles of South America is especially dangerous; its bite can actually cause severe poisoning, even death. As for the Crimean scolopendra living in our country, although it is not fatal, nevertheless, you should stay away from it.

Symptoms of a scolopendra bite (in particular our Crimean one):

hornet,

This discomfort lasts about two days.

Interesting fact: female scolopendras are more poisonous and dangerous than males.

What does scolopendra eat?

Photo: Centipede insect

The centipede naturally has anatomical adaptations with which it successfully copes with catching prey:

• maxillomandibles;
• wide throat;
• poison glands;
• tenacious legs.

The centipede is a predator. When attacking prey, the scolopendra first immobilizes the victim and then slowly eats it. The likelihood of prey escaping from a centipede is very low, because not only does it move very quickly, it also makes attacking jumps.

Interesting fact: Scolopendra can move at speeds of up to 40 cm per second.

Advantages of centipedes when hunting prey:

• has good vertical running skills;
• the insect is very dexterous and agile;
• has a quick response to any vibrations in the air;
• at one time an individual can catch several victims at once.

Domestic scolopendras are flycatchers; they eat any insects: cockroaches, flies, mosquitoes, ants, bedbugs. Therefore, the flycatcher benefits the house in which it lives.

Forest scolopendras give preference to living creatures that live underground: earthworms, larvae, beetles. When it gets dark and the scolopendra comes out of its hiding place, it can hunt for grasshoppers, caterpillars, crickets, wasps and ants. Scolopendra is very voracious, she needs to constantly hunt. When hungry she becomes very aggressive. Large scolopendra also attacks small rodents: snakes, lizards, chicks and bats.

How do flycatchers hunt?

They lie in wait for their prey using antennae that detect odors and vibrations. During a hunt, the centipede rises on its long legs, then rushes with lightning speed at the spotted prey. To hold it, powerful jaw processes are used. The injected poison instantly paralyzes the insect. After eating, the flycatcher hides in a secluded place to digest food. When faced with a flycatcher, people often wonder if the centipede is poisonous. Yes, the insect has glands that produce poison to kill prey.

If there are several victims within the centipede's reach, it catches them all. Moreover, in the process of eating one midge, she holds the rest with her legs.

Features of character and lifestyle

Photo: Scolopendra in the Krasnodar region

Scolopendra is a poisonous predatory insect that is a dangerous enemy for many insects and small animals. By biting its victim, the scolopendra paralyzes it with poison and slowly eats it. Since the centipede is active at night, it is more productive to hunt at this time of day. During daylight hours, the scolopendra itself hides from enemies so as not to become lunch for others, although during the day it is also not averse to feasting on it.

Centipedes prefer an antisocial life, so they live alone. The centipede shows aggression towards its relative extremely rarely, but if there is a fight between two individuals, one of them dies in any case. In relation to the surrounding world, scolopendra, as a rule, does not show friendliness. This is a nervous and angry insect, whose anxiety is caused by its eyes’ sensitive perception of the light and colors of the surrounding world.

Therefore, any animal or insect that disturbs the scolopendra automatically becomes its target for attack. It is almost impossible to escape from a centipede because it is very fast and agile. In addition, the centipede's digestive system, which digests food very quickly, requires constant replenishment of food supplies. Because of this, the scolopendra constantly needs to look for food.

Interesting fact: The Chinese scolopendra digests slightly less than half of its dinner within three hours.

Causes of occurrence in the house

A centipede will not just appear in the house. Certain conditions are necessary for its functioning. For example:

• The presence in the house of a sufficient number of insects that are included in the millipede’s diet.
• High humidity.
• Suitable temperature conditions.
• No direct sunlight.

If at least some of the conditions coincide, then this insect will definitely appear in the apartment, especially if there is something to eat in it, and even if there is high humidity. She will not live in a dry apartment, even if there is enough food in it.

South Ukrainian scolopendra: what is the danger of its bite? — STOP 5, 02/19/2017

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Black centipede

Scolopendras become sexually mature in the second year of life. They begin to reproduce in mid-spring and do not finish throughout the summer. After the mating process has passed, after a couple of weeks the female begins to lay eggs. The ideal place for laying eggs is considered damp and warm. On average, a female produces from 40 to 120 eggs per clutch, but not all survive. Females monitor and take care of their clutches, covering them from danger with their paws. After the ripening period, small worms are born from the eggs.

At birth, baby centipedes have only four pairs of legs. With each molting process, the little scolopendra adds paws. Until a certain age, the mother remains close to the offspring. But baby centipedes very quickly adapt to their environment and begin to live independently. Compared to other invertebrate representatives, invertebrates are truly long-livers. Their average life expectancy is 6 – 7 years.

There are three stages of development and maturation of centipedes:

• embryo. A stage whose duration lasts one or one and a half months;
• nymph. This stage also lasts from one to one and a half months;
• juvenile The stage reached by the little scolopendra after the third molt;
• Over time, the color of the head changes to a darker color, and the plate becomes easily distinguishable from the body. Young scolopendras begin to live independently at the end of the third week. The scolopendra becomes fully mature only in the second or fourth year of life.

The development of centipedes and its speed depends on climatic conditions, nutrition, humidity and temperature. Each type of centipede has its own life expectancy. Once mature, individuals, depending on the species, can live from two to seven years.

Video

And in conclusion, an interesting film about scolopendra.

Author: Pavel Chaika, editor-in-chief of Poznavaika magazine

When writing the article, I tried to make it as interesting, useful and high-quality as possible. I would be grateful for any feedback and constructive criticism in the form of comments on the article. You can also write your wish/question/suggestion to my email [email protected] or Facebook, with respect, the author.

Author page

Natural enemies of centipedes

Photo: What scolopendra looks like

In their natural habitat, scolopendras are also hunted by predators. At the same time, the diversity of species that eat centipedes is relatively small. The most dangerous natural enemies of the centipede are frogs, toads, small mammals (shrews, mice), and birds. Owls love to hunt centipedes. Also, scolopendra is a nutritious protein food.

Pets such as dogs and cats also eat flycatchers. But this can carry a certain danger, since parasites often live inside centipedes. When an animal eats a scolopendra infected with the parasite, it also automatically becomes infectious. Scolopendras are a tasty morsel for snakes and rats.

Interesting fact: A large scolopendra can eat a smaller scolopendra.

Some peoples to this day consider scolopendra as a tasty and healthy food, because its body contains a lot of protein. In certain cultures, there is a belief that centipedes, as food, cure many diseases that are incurable with drugs.

Traditional medicine does not recommend eating scolopendra as food for people, especially in its raw form, because most individuals on the planet are infected with parasites. A dangerous parasite that lives in the body of a centipede is the rat lungworm. This parasite causes a dangerous disease that leads not only to incurable neuralgic diseases, but even to death.

Nutrition

As you probably already guessed, our today's heroine, centipede, is a notorious predator of the insect world; other smaller insects act as a source of food for centipedes: earthworms, beetles,

crickets, grasshoppers, etc.

Scolopendra caught a grasshopper.

But the giant scolopendra can easily attack small ones

lizards, frogs, birds, small snakes and even bats. To catch the latter, the centipede, holding the surface with its claws, climbs to the ceiling where it sleeps, then attacks the bat with its front claws, simultaneously wrapping itself around the victim and injecting poison into it.

Bottom line

So we learned about these amazing arthropods that look like huge worms with legs. There are people who put scolopendra as a tattoo on their body. And the interpretation is quite simple - such tattoos are applied by people with a rebellious character, going against generally accepted norms. The editors of most-beauty.ru ask you to write in the comments about your attitude towards these animals. Which scolopendras evoke a lot of emotions in you and have you met them in your life?

Habitat

Like most centipedes, scolopendra likes to settle in heat-loving countries with a hot tropical climate. Large populations have chosen the tropical forests of Latin and Central America.

Large specimens can be found in equatorial Africa. In southern Europe there are smaller scolopendras. There are species that settled in the Crimea, steppe zones of Russia, Ukraine, and the countries of Central Asia.

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Who are centipedes

The centipede or millipede is a large superclass of invertebrates.

Centipede.

Their body is similar to a caterpillar, only clearly segmented and covered with dense chitin. Another difference is the large number of limbs.

These animals are predators. They are very mobile and fast, but move exclusively at night. During the day they live in comfortable places, warm and humid, and at nightfall they go out to hunt.

Name

Author: Eran Finkle /

The scientific name came to us from the ancient Greek language. Literally, scolopendra means centipede, woodlice, and consists of two words “worm” and “picket fence”.

In Russian it is often used to mean a creeping poisonous creature. In the legends and myths of the peoples of the world, arthropods are associated with danger.

Don't miss the fascinating article on our website most-beauty.ru about the most beautiful and unusual worms on Earth.

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