Is the centipede insect a dangerous neighbor or an ally?

The centipede insect is an amazing species, it looks terrifying, the length of an adult individual reaches 60 mm. The house centipede, or common flycatcher, feeds on insects and rids the house of various types of parasites. The centipede destroys and helps fight domestic insects such as: fleas; mole; cockroaches; silverfish; spiders and others who live with people and bring them various inconveniences and unpleasant sensations. In addition, the bites of many of them are painful, and for people prone to allergies, they bring additional health problems.

The centipede is not a pest; it destroys many harmful insects

But how do these arthropod creatures get into the house, where do they come from and why do they stay living next to humans? What attracts them here?

Home keeping of scolopendra

Terrariums are used for breeding centipedes in captivity. This is a very mobile insect and at the same time aggressive. They live in captivity for up to seven years. If you have no experience in breeding centipedes, then it is best to study the literature and research all the safety precautions for their maintenance and breeding.

Scolopendra has a flexible pleural zone. Thanks to this fact, it can squeeze into the smallest cracks of any rocks and soil in order to hide securely. This centipede is the greatest escape specialist.

When choosing a terrarium, pay attention to the length, width and height. Read the breeding guides; they have the most complete information about such necessary things as buying a terrarium for centipedes.

The soil must be moist and suitable for digging holes. There should be enough humidity, but it shouldn't be too wet.

Scolopendras are aggressive, but if you introduce crustacean woodlice, they will not touch them, since they do not perceive them as food.

Basically, for all types of centipedes, a temperature of 27 degrees is suitable. If you are getting a special species, consult with a specialist regarding temperature and housing conditions.

At home, it is advisable to feed scolopendra with grasshoppers or mealworms; overfeeding is not recommended. Usually they are fed 1-2 times a week. Scolopendra up to 15 cm in size will be satisfied with 5 crickets. Lack of appetite may mean that the insect is not hungry or is preparing for another molt.

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Carnivorous predators

What do centipedes eat? They are carnivores. This is surprising, because although they look scary, they do not seem like predators. However, they do like to eat spiders, cockroaches, flies, crickets, moths, and soft-skinned insects (such as bedbugs, earthworms, and various arthropods).

For larger species of centipedes, such as the Amazonian giant centipede, such a treat would not be enough. Most often, the wild species feeds on snakes, lizards, birds, frogs, rodents and even bats.

We recommend reading: “Who eats grasshoppers?”

What do centipedes look like?

The centipede looks like both a hairy spider and a worm at the same time. She quickly appears and disappears just as quickly. Those who consider the centipede to be an insect are mistaken. This is an arthropod whose body consists of 15 segments, each securely covered with a layer of quinine. Its size can reach 6 cm. The scolopendra has a threatening appearance (you can see in the photo above) due to the specific structure of its legs - each subsequent pair is longer than the previous one. The last legs have transformed into jaws, so it is difficult to immediately determine where her head is and where her tail is.

They can have very different sizes, be black, gray, green. Gray representatives of this superclass most often live in houses. This is one of the oldest groups of animals that have survived to this day. Fossil remains of millipedes date back to the Cambrian period. Scientists consider arthropods of these classes to be the first animals to colonize land.

A distinctive feature of centipedes is a large number of pairs of legs, and with age, new ones grow all the time. An adult has 15 pairs of legs. The centipede's main sensory organs are complex compound eyes and hypersensitive antennae. With them, she senses many parameters of the external environment, can feel the approach of danger and find the most comfortable place for herself.

The body is shaggy and consists of segments with a high degree of freedom, which gives the centipede dexterity of movement and excellent reaction. Thanks to the articulated structure of the body and the special organization of the legs, scolopendra moves very quickly - up to 60 cm per second, both on horizontal and vertical surfaces.

They move slowly on their short legs, which are designed to help push through soil and plant debris. The bodies are elongated, cylindrical. They are nocturnal creatures that live in the soil and have poor eyesight when they can see at all.

Centipedes come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from 2 mm to 35 cm in length, and can have from eleven to over a hundred segments. They are black or brown, although there are a few brightly colored varieties to warn of toxicity. Motyxia species produce cyanide as a chemical defense and are bioluminescent (glow in the dark).

Appearance varies greatly between the major groups.

Head

The centipede's head is rounded at the top and flattened at the bottom. Bears a pair of large mandibles in front of a plate-like structure called the maxillary lip. The head contains one pair of antennae with seven or eight segments and a group of sensory cones at the end.

The eyes consist of several simple, flat-lensed ocelli located in a group or spot on each side of the head. The spots are called eye fields, eyeballs.

The bodies of centipedes are flat or cylindrical. They consist of numerous segments, each of which has an exoskeleton consisting of five chitinous plates. The plates are hard, impregnated with calcium salts. Since they do not have a waxy cuticle, they cannot close their constantly open spiracles. Susceptible to water loss and must spend most of their time in damp environments.

The rest, from the fifth to the posterior, are double segments. Each double has two pairs of legs, rather than one like centipedes. The last segment is known as the Telsoni and consists of the preanal ring, a pair of anal valves.

The legs consist of seven segments and are attached to the lower body.

Internal organs

Centipedes breathe through two pairs of spiracles located on each segment near the base of the legs. Each opens into an internal bag and connects to the tracheal system. The heart moves along the entire length of the body, the aorta extending to the head.

How do centipedes hunt and feed?

Although the centipede insect is a predator , in the absence of usual food for a long time, it can also eat plants, for example, some types of domestic flowers. But the basis of their diet is:

• Worms.
• Flies.
• Cockroaches.
• Larvae.
• Fleas.
• Butterflies.
• Bedbugs.

Centipedes prefer to hunt in the dark. Sitting in a secluded place, these insects lie in wait for potential prey, using special antennae that are able to detect the slightest movements, smells and sounds. Seeing the presence of a beetle or cockroach suitable for food, the centipede quickly jumps on its prey, and then, holding it with the help of its jaw processes, injects poison into the body of the prey, which kills it instantly. After this, the flycatcher eats its lunch and goes to a secluded place for a while to calmly digest the food.

A small predator can catch several insects at once and, eating one victim, will hold the rest with its legs.

Air temperature and humidity

Regular room temperature, which is maintained indoors all year round, is suitable for ferns. In summer he will feel comfortable at 26-28 degrees, and in winter at 16-19 degrees

In winter, it is important that the temperature does not fall below 12 degrees, which will be detrimental to phlebodium

As for air humidity, the tropical plant tolerates dryness better than any other members of the fern family. However, you need to monitor the humidity so that its level does not fall below 50%, and otherwise, spray the leaves with soft water at room temperature.

Varieties of centipedes and their habitat

There are a lot of varieties of centipedes, almost all of them are similar in body structure and a large number of legs. Let's look at the most famous species of centipedes and their habitat.

Common flycatcher (scutigera)

Scolopendra scutigera is a centipede from the order Scutigeromorpha of the labiopod class. The adult is 35 to 60 mm long, yellow-gray in color with long striped legs.

Feeds on small insects. Lives in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. They are also found in the territory of Ukraine, the Caucasus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and southern Russia.

The natural habitat of the common flycatcher is dry fallen leaves. With the onset of cold weather, it begins to seek shelter, so it may end up in an apartment, especially in damp rooms - a bathroom, toilet, basement.

It is practically safe for humans, as it cannot bite through the skin of humans and pets. The maximum harm that scolopendra scutigera can cause to a person is redness and swelling of the skin; its bite is comparable to the sting of one wasp.

It also does not cause any harm to exposed food and furniture, and in some regions it is generally considered a rare beneficial species of arthropod that cannot be killed. Therefore, do not be afraid if you meet her at home, carefully pick her up with a net or other tool and send her “for a walk” outside the window.

Giant centipede - the largest centipede

The giant scolopendra lives most often in the west and north of South America, on the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica. They feed on insects in the same way as other species of centipedes, but there are known cases of giant centipedes attacking lizards, toads, mice and even birds.

The strongly built body consists of 21-23 segments of brown or red color with a pair of bright yellow legs. Poisonous jaws can cause harm to a person in the form of swelling, redness and severe pain, and occasionally fever, weakness and fever. For an adult, the venom of the giant scolopendra is not fatal. The poison consists of the following substances: contains acetylcholine, serotonin, histamine, lecithin, thermolysins, hyaluronidases.

Ringed scolopendra (Crimean)

The ringed scolopendra is the most common species of centipede in Southern Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean basin, including Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece, and Crimea. He also lives in Northern Africa: Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco.

It is inferior in size to the giant centipede, reaching an average of 10-15 cm. The venom of the ringed centipede is also not as toxic as that of its “big brother”. A very fast and agile predator, it hunts almost all living creatures that are smaller in size - insects, lizards.

Chinese red scolopendra

The Chinese red scolopendra lives in eastern Asia and Australia. Unlike many other species of centipedes, it is less aggressive and more social, it can live in peace with its relatives in communities (most species of centipedes are solitary).

In Chinese medicine, this type of scolopendra is used to speed up the healing of skin diseases and injuries.

California scolopendra

The California scolopendra lives in arid areas of the United States and Mexico, although other scolopendra species prefer wetter habitats.

A bite from a California scolopendra or touching its legs when disturbed can cause minor harm to a person in the form of inflammation. There have even been cases of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure after being bitten by this centipede.

Scolopendra Lucas

Lucas's centipede, like the ringed one, lives in the southern part of Europe. Distinctive features are the heart-shaped head and rusty color. The harm from contact with it is identical to most other centipedes.

Harm and benefit

The centipede is safe for humans. The only trouble with her is her terrifying appearance. A centipede cannot physically harm a person in a private home. This is due to the fact that warm-blooded creatures have skin that is quite dense and thick, which prevents the insect from biting through it. The centipede does not pose a danger to pets. Centipedes, while in the apartment, do not damage furniture, wallpaper and other interior items. For this reason, you should not fear for your property.

Harm

Woodlice in greenhouses can damage seedlings, sometimes they act out in flower beds, but they prefer weeds, so they do not cause much harm.

Sandy and gray nooses rarely damage plant roots and strawberries lying on the ground. Dry weather forces hawksbills to feed on live plants because the animals do not have enough water.

Drupes can feed on young leaves if the necessary food is not enough.

Benefit

Geophiles are predators; they feed on invertebrate animals; their diet includes small crustaceans, insects and their larvae, nematodes and roundworms, as well as what remains of invertebrates.

Drupes are also predators. They feed on small insects: worms, caterpillars, fools, ticks, flies, beetles, small spiders, mosquitoes and midges. Drupes tolerate low temperatures, therefore in cold weather, when caterpillars of leaf rollers or other eaters of garden and vegetable plants are very limited in movement, pests become easy prey for drupes.

The nooses are very voracious, feeding on fallen leaves, mushrooms, rotten shoots of plants, and fallen fruits. Chickweeds need calcium to create a shell, so they know how to accumulate it not only in their own bodies, but also in the soil. And calcium in the soil retains water. Kivsyaki ideally process manure. The resulting humus is the best fertilizer for plants.

Woodlice make tunnels in the ground - this is how new pores appear, the soil is better saturated with air. After woodlice, humus appears instead of plant residues.

Features of centipedes

Before talking about methods of getting rid of an insect, you should find out what the pest looks like and what its characteristics are. The fact is that some representatives of the insect world are very similar to each other, because of this there is a problem with selecting the right product.

The centipede should be classified as a “labipod”. As for the length of the body, it is three centimeters. This is quite a lot for an insect that invades people's apartments and lives there.

The main feature of the centipede is its rapid movement due to the huge number of legs. Because of this, problems arise with removing the pest from the apartment. As for the living itself, the centipede likes to live in bathrooms and kitchens, where there is a damp environment and a small amount of light.

As a rule, the pest comes in the autumn, when it is quite cold outside. If you fail to breed a centipede in a short time, a lot of problems will arise. The fact is that these representatives can live more than 5 years. During that time you can get a lot of larvae.

Nutrition

During its entire existence, the centipede has no problems finding food. These could be spiders, cockroaches, termites, and so on. Before eating, the centipede injects a potent poison into the body of its victim. It kills almost instantly. Afterwards, the insect begins its meal.

From this context, we can conclude that in some cases the centipede is useful. Due to it, there will never be arachnids and other insects in your home. But the appearance really frightens the residents; they want to get rid of the pest as quickly as possible.

Benefits and harms

If there is a centipede in your house, it can cause not only harm, but also benefit. The main advantage is the eating of other insects, which you also want to get rid of. These include spiders, cockroaches, and termites.

All this is good, but many people are very afraid of the appearance of the centipede, they think that it only causes harm.

Experts note that the insect will not cause much harm to its cohabitants. It is worth remembering that if a dangerous moment arises, a centipede can release potent poison into its offender during a bite.

In appearance, the bite is very similar to a mosquito bite; severe redness and itching occurs. If you do get bitten by a centipede, it’s okay, the main thing is to immediately lubricate the affected area with iodine or hydrogen peroxide. This approach will prevent further development of redness and irritation.

If an allergic reaction occurs, take an antihistamine. Also considered a negative aspect is severe damage to plants. The fact is that the centipede simply eats them, and nothing can be done about it.

Reproduction and lifespan

Centipedes are solitary by nature. Only in late spring - early summer do females producing pheromones begin to attract males. But the process of fertilization in them occurs without direct contact.

The man, blocking the entrance to his hideout, deposits a lemon-shaped sac of sperm called a spermatophore. The female, crawling along it, collects it with her genital appendages. After a few days, he lays his eggs in the prepared hole and envelops them with something like sticky mucus.

Centipedes are caring mothers; They tighten the grip with their paws and protect future offspring from predators. Babies are born with only 8 legs. And only after five molts the number of limbs will reach 30.

Under natural conditions, the lifespan of a centipede is 5–6 years.

First aid for a scolopendra bite

No special first aid measures are required for a centipede bite. Medical attention should be sought if pain persists or systemic symptoms occur. Topical application of ice may reduce some discomfort. However, local application of heat or immersion in a hot bath has been found to work better. This may be due to the fact that scolopendra venom is thermolabile and disintegrates when the temperature rises.

1. Pain can be controlled with systemic analgesics as needed. Local injectable anesthetics (for example, lidocaine) can help relieve severe pain. They can be administered locally or used to perform a regional nerve block.
2. Antitetanus serum should be administered as needed.
3. Prophylactic antibiotics are not necessary, but if secondary infections occur, they should be treated with appropriate antibiotics (to cover gram-positive bacteria).
4. Antihistamines are used for patients with significant itching.
5. Patients should be observed for approximately 4 hours after a scolopendra bite for evidence of systemic toxicity.
6. Patients with signs of anaphylaxis should be treated in a standard manner ().

Most scolopendra bites are minor and can be treated well with conservative treatments.
In rare, more severe cases, consultation with a regional poison control center specialist is required. Very rarely should a specialist be involved in the treatment, for example: Surgeon: When there is very severe swelling and a fasciotomy is required. Cardiologist: If the patient has signs of cardiovascular complications. Nephrologist: If rhabdomyolysis occurs and is complicated by acute renal failure. A scolopendra sting can cause severe pain (can be very painful) that can last for several days. However, not a single death has been recorded from the bite of any centipede.

It would require maintaining almost 1,000 venom glands to produce a fatal bite for the average adult, which is naturally unrealistic for any city resident.

A scolopendra bite can occur if you step on it or pick it up; it will do this in self-defense. Large specimens can cause a painful wound. Small ones, as a rule, cannot bite through human skin to inject poison.

They pierce the skin with a powerful pair of modified, clawed legs located on the first part of the body, just behind the head.

Scolopendras use their legs and claws like syringes to inject their venom into your flesh from sacs inside their torso. one way or another, the bite of a scolopendra is similar to the bite of wasps, which do not leave a sting in the wound and can sting a person several times in a row.

Scolopendras can be quite large; for example, the Californian scolopendra reaches sizes of up to 30 cm.

Scolopendra bites are most often found in the southern and southwestern regions of the country. Northerners may be afraid of nothing at all if they do not go on vacation to the south. Beware in this case!

Some lovers of exotic animals keep scolopendra at home; they undoubtedly should be very careful. Statistically, centipedes and other centipedes cause fewer injuries than bees, wasps, scorpions, ants or hornets.

You can be bitten by a scolopendra by touching it or by contact if, for example, you lay down on the bed where it sought refuge. It is not recommended to touch it with bare hands.

Reproduction of the common flycatcher

When insects begin breeding season , usually in spring and summer, the female begins to secrete special pheromones so that the male pays attention to her. When the acquaintance occurs, the male lays a small cell with sperm, which picks up a female individual with his reproductive tract. She then digs a hole in the damp soil and places 70 to 120 fertilized eggs in it and sprinkles them lightly with soil to camouflage them.

Small centipedes are born with four pairs of legs, then their number increases after each molt. After 5–6 molts, the flycatcher grows and the number of legs is 15 pairs. The lifespan of a house centipede is about 3–7 years.

Scolopendra, who is this?

Scolopendra is a venomous animal with modified forelimbs, a segmented body, a pair of legs at each segment and sharp marigolds at the end. Scolopendras come in different colors: purple, yellow, orange, red, blue. As a rule, these are nocturnal predators; they emerge from their crevices at night and cannot tolerate daylight or sunlight. They can hide under tree roots, in burrows, cracks, and the ceiling of a house. They feed on small rodents, insects, and lizards.

The main danger is the device or poisonous apparatus, which is located inside the jaw in the form of channels with a poisonous gland located in the hole at the tip of the nail. The poisonous gland contains poison, which, when released into the victim, can cause poisoning, swelling, numbness, soreness and burning of the tissues on the skin.

Typically, the appearance of centipedes in a house or apartment is facilitated by favorable conditions for their life activity or an optimal habitat. These are food remains on the table, dampness and high humidity in the room. It is precisely under such factors that scolopendra most likely starts. Its most favorite habitat is a damp, damp place. Getting rid of the scourge of this insect means eliminating all damp corners and crevices in the room.

Population and species status

The centipede population is not in danger, since they are very prolific and have virtually no enemies. More often, the opposite task is faced - how to get rid of them if they have settled in a house or apartment. Despite the fact that flycatchers are not dangerous to people and even destroy harmful insects, living with them in the same living space will not be pleasant for anyone. This can be a very serious problem, as regular insect repellents are not effective.

It is necessary to change the conditions that are comfortable for these creatures and then they will leave on their own:

• centipedes love dampness very much, which means it is necessary to remove the source of high humidity - do not leave puddles or wet rags on the floor, fix the taps;
• You should ventilate the premises more often and, if necessary, install a ventilation system;
• destroy all insects in the house, as they can attract centipedes as a food source;
• remove all old trash, rotten boards, mold from the basement;
• close the entry routes inside the room for centipedes - install screens on the windows, repair the floors, and so on.

As soon as the living conditions cease to satisfy the flycatchers, they will immediately leave the territory. If these creatures have settled on a summer cottage, then you should not disturb them, as they eat many harmful insects. In some countries, for example in Ukraine, flycatchers are listed in the Red Book and are protected.

The centipede is not the most pleasant neighbor, but it is better to be “friends” with it since it benefits humans, effectively destroying many parasitic insects that are dangerous to people. This is exactly the case when appearances are deceiving and behind the vile appearance hides a little friend, and not a big enemy.

These little creatures were called centipedes because they have many legs. The word centipede does not mean that the insect has 40 legs. In fact, the number of their legs can be completely different, depending on the species, and there are more than 5000 of them. Typically, most of them have from 15 to 200 pairs of legs.

Fighting centipedes in the house

The best way to combat house flycatchers that have settled in your home is with preventive methods. Taking into account its favorite habitats and knowing what centipedes eat, you can create all the conditions to make them feel uncomfortable in the house:

• in apartments the number of such arthropods is minimal, so it will be enough to kill a few, which will help remove them;
• repair water pipes in service areas, dry and thoroughly clean storage rooms, basements, etc.
• remove all pests from the house, i.e. get rid of prey accessible to house flycatchers;
• block access routes for arthropods by sealing all cracks in windows, doors, along baseboards and foundations, and install mesh in ventilation;
• repair wooden floors, remove cracks where house flycatchers like to live, cover them with varnish or mastic, the smell of which is unbearable for them;
• Avoid allowing water or high humidity in pots and trays of indoor plants where centipedes like to make themselves comfortable.

Sticky tapes, which are used against flies and other insects, will not be able to catch house centipedes, because having stuck to it with its paws, it will simply run away without a severed limb. Subsequently, the flycatcher will grow a new leg. Food baits also have no effect on them, because they do not eat any food other than the insects they kill.

If no measures help get rid of unpleasant arthropod neighbors, then you can use insecticidal aerosols intended for domestic parasites.

How to deal with it

Despite the positive qualities that insects have, not every person can see them in their home. Insects, no matter how useful they are, provide too little pleasure. The fact that an insect can bite does not make it a good neighbor for humans. Getting rid of the centipede that lives with you at home requires a lot of effort, but initially you need to determine the reasons why it appeared in the house.

If a centipede appears inside a building, in a bathhouse or basement, it is recommended to remove all rotting wood or other organic matter and dry the room. It is also recommended to remove all vegetation and organic waste located near the house. Centipedes are attracted to corrugated cardboard and paper, as well as shredded tree bark and clumps of straw.

Centipedes do not live in large colonies, and if you see one of them, it is advisable to catch it, although this is quite difficult.

For those who do not have time to evict the centipede from the apartment without causing harm to it, an effective method is to use a toxic substance designed to destroy the flytrap.

The best thing is to turn to professionals involved in pest control, but it is worth remembering that in some countries the law is to protect these insects and their appearance in the apartment is considered a blessing.

To get rid of centipedes, you need to remove dead grass and rotten wood

Chemical control agents

The use of repellents or extended-spectrum insecticidal sprays, which have a high concentration, will help drive out multipedes that have multiped and come across even during daylight hours. There are no special preparations for house centipedes in the apartment.

Popular drugs:

1. Aerosol Raid. Non-toxic product with lavender scent.
2. Liquid Medilis-Ziper for dilution with water and spraying. It has a pungent odor and requires respiratory protection when working.
3. A strong insecticide with lambda-cyhalothrin has no pungent odor and does not harm people or pets.
4. Globol (odorless gel) has strong toxicity, flycatchers will not return soon.
5. Great Warrior (gel) fights cockroaches and ants, but flycatchers and earwigs also do not like this product.

As a home remedy, you can sprinkle boric acid powder where centipedes run around the apartment.

Folk methods of struggle

Traditional methods of combating various insects are especially effective when their number is not too large. As a rule, products prepared on the basis of natural or other ingredients are more suitable as preventive agents. They do not act quickly, so it will take some time to completely get rid of unwanted guests. Products based on natural ingredients are practically harmless to people, children and pets. Therefore, most people prefer these methods of struggle.

Proven methods include:

1. Use of boric acid. This is an inexpensive, accessible and safe product that has a detrimental effect on many insects. Centipedes are no exception and also die from such bait. But the use in the fight against this arthropod has its own characteristics, since the flycatcher does not consume food of this origin. You need to take boric acid powder and pour it into the cracks between the baseboards and the wall, as well as into other cracks where these insects can hide. But it’s better to prepare similar bait for cockroaches. When the cockroaches disappear, the flytrap itself will leave the apartment.
2. Use of cayenne pepper. To do this, you will have to grind or dry, and then grind the burning product into a powder and scatter it in areas where insects appear. Centipedes, like other insects, cannot stand the smell of this plant, but they are unlikely to taste it.

Harmless ways

Eliminate the source of moisture because flycatchers cannot live without water.

For this:

• Clean the kitchen and bathroom, clean places where a rag rarely penetrates, add bleach and chlorine to the water, do not store garbage;
• Remove wet sources (wet rags and towels, replace the bathroom rug);
• Eliminate condensation, wipe the walls and ventilate the bathroom;
• Install, if required, dryers and fans;
• Do not leave water in trays with indoor plants.

In a private house - clean the basement, get rid of mold and dampness.

If there are leaks, repair or replace leaking plumbing fixtures and pipes. Re-glue the peeling wallpaper and return the fallen tiles to their places.

Block the crawling paths of centipedes: fill cracks and crevices with silicone sealant, cover windows with mosquito nets, and cover ventilation ducts with fine-mesh grilles. Don't forget to clean the grates regularly.

Remove insects - the food of centipedes. But poisons that act on cockroaches and flies will not affect flycatchers - they develop a persistent addiction.

It is not difficult to remove using a humane method. Centipedes remember what happened and how they felt. With the caught animals, which were taken out and released on the street away from the house, others will also leave.

GETTING HIGHER

Researchers consider the centipede to be the only epiphytic fern found in central Russia. Epiphytes are species that do not grow on the ground, but exist by attaching to other plants - phorophytes. At the same time, they do not parasitize their hosts, but obtain energy and necessary nutrients independently, using photosynthesis. Epiphytes obtain moisture from air and precipitation. They use phorophytes only as a physical support, so as not to depend on the ground and get closer to the light source. In addition, a high location helps the plant not to become food for herbivores. Since the centipede, like all epiphytes, does not receive any nutrients from the host, it can be found not only on tree trunks, but also on moss-covered stones or on the vertical walls of buildings. However, it grows well on the ground.

Is it necessary to get rid of it at the dacha?

If you have a garden and a vegetable garden adjacent to your dacha building, and that’s where you noticed flycatchers, you don’t need to touch them. Moreover, destroy it. They will bring you great benefit and will help exterminate various pests that attack crops and cultivated plants. The centipede itself does not eat plants and root crops; it is carnivorous.

Habitat

In nature, common flycatchers live in damp, shaded corners of forests, parks, and gardens. They settle under trees in the layer of fallen leaves, as well as under stones and snags. With the onset of cold weather, they climb into various crevices and spend the winter there, and in the spring they leave their shelters and actively search for food.

In summer, flycatchers can often be seen sitting on the walls of barns and houses. In autumn, cold weather forces millipedes to look for places with more comfortable temperatures, which is why they often visit human homes. Although you can find a flycatcher in the house in the summer, especially if it is hot and dry outside, and the house is humid and cool.

Given suitable conditions and a constant source of food, flycatchers can live in a person's home year-round. For settlement, they choose dark and damp places: spaces under bathrooms, basements, basement floors. They often settle in outbuildings.

How does a centipede get into a human home?

A centipede that lives in the wild can accidentally get into a house without purpose, but an ordinary flycatcher prefers to hide in houses and apartments for the winter. It received this name because it catches and eats only flies. In the summer, it hides in the foliage, but when cold weather sets in, it moves into a person’s home. The maximum length can reach up to 60 millimeters. The color of the body is gray-yellow with blue or red stripes.

The body itself is divided into fifteen segments, each of which has legs.

The first pair of legs is larger than the others. They are used to catch prey. It is with them that she catches and holds the victim.

In general, the flycatcher does not adhere to a specific time of day; it is always active. You can find it on the walls of houses and barns, as it hunts small mammals.

Flycatchers are not dangerous to humans, they do not have powerful jaws and they simply cannot bite through human skin. However, if it bites a child, it can pierce his skin and thereby cause an allergic reaction. In general, flycatchers do not rush at a person on their own. This happens if they feel danger.

Flycatchers can be useful for human homes, as they destroy other insects. However, when household members encounter a flycatcher, they prefer to get rid of it, since the appearance is quite frightening.

Encounter with Scolopendra

Giant centipedes, distinguished by their aggressive nature and toxic poison, are found in the tropics and subtropics. Residents of the temperate zone should not fear a collision with a 30-centimeter giant, capable of easily killing a small snake. In Europe, there are individuals that are half the size of representatives of tropical species. Why is scolopendra dangerous for humans? The bite of a poisonous centipede is very painful. In most cases, the dose of injected poison is small; it will not kill or paralyze an adult. Children are at greater risk; their bodies have still formed a strong protective immune system. An attack by a large animal on a child can lead to serious consequences.

On the territory of Russia, scolopendras are found only in several regions - Crimea, the Caucasus, Rostov region and Krasnodar region. Small centipedes, 12-14 cm, live here. This is the ringed centipede. She is nocturnal and at dusk goes out to hunt for insects and small lizards. The species is not aggressive, but you should be careful during overnight hikes. A centipede can crawl into a tent or sleeping bag

You should also be careful when collecting branches for the fire. Accidentally disturbing a centipede will get a bite comparable to the sting of 20 bees

The effect of the poison is not fatal, but extremely unpleasant and painful. Claws on numerous limbs leave red spots on the skin if the arthropod simply runs across the body.

Who is a centipede

The biological name of this creature is the common flycatcher or house centipede. According to the classification, the centipede is not an insect, but belongs to the group of arthropods, the class of the same name and the tracheal type. There are thousands of species of centipedes in nature. Their habitat is damp and dark places: foliage, shelters under bark and stones, etc.

Millipedes go hunting at night and hide during the day. The body of an adult centipede is divided into 15 segments, each of which has legs. Their sizes along the body are different: closer to the tail, the legs become longer, which allows them not to get tangled with each other when moving.

Outwardly, it is difficult to determine where her head is and where her back is. In addition, the front pair of legs evolved and turned into jaws designed for capturing prey.

The flycatcher has a chitinous cover and a flattened body. There are small hairs all over the surface of the body, which is why some people call them hairy centipedes. The average length is 3-4 cm; occasionally larger individuals up to 6 cm are found.

Interesting!

The speed of movement of a house flycatcher can reach 40-60 cm per second; such a fast-running creature often frightens ignorant and nervous people. They can move both on horizontal and vertical surfaces: on the floor, walls or ceiling. The number of limbs depends on the type of centipede and can reach 354 pieces.

Common flycatcher
As can be seen from the description and photo of the centipede, on its head are located:

• compound eyes that see perfectly;
• long mustache-catchers, resembling a whip in shape, with their help they monitor all changes in the environment;
• the whiskers consist of 500-600 segments and react to temperature changes, help explore and navigate in space, and find safe places.

The color of an adult individual is gray-yellow, brown, with 3 purple or black stripes on the back. During the cold season, flycatchers crawl into secluded corners and freeze in order to “wake up” in the spring and return to active life again.

Respiratory system

Most millipedes usually have one pair of respiratory stigmas on each segment or across a segment, while in bipeds there are two pairs of stigmata on almost all segments. In the latter, the stigmata lead into bundles of isolated thin unbranched tracheas. In labiopods, the tracheal system is highly developed. Stigmas lead into large tracheal trunks, which branch quite strongly, breaking up into small tracheae. The latter are suitable for various organs. The wall of the trachea is formed by a single-layer epithelium, lined from the inside with chitin, with a characteristic spiral thickening that counteracts the collapse of the walls of the trachea.

Description of the flycatcher insect

The homeland of this animal is southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East. In our latitudes, the flycatcher insect lives in fallen leaves and prefers high humidity and warmth. For this reason, the centipede starts in basements and with the first autumn chill comes out to hunt in our apartments. Yes, yes, this insect is a predator; it is not for nothing that it is also called the common flycatcher. Its diet includes flies, cockroaches, crickets, moths and other household pests. So, even with a repulsive appearance, a centipede can serve well the owners of the house that shelters it.

What does a flycatcher insect look like?

Her frightening appearance is a common cause of women's squeals and children's frightened screams. Common flycatcher insects have a long brown or yellowish body, about 6 cm for an adult centipede, with three dark parallel stripes on the back. Along the body they have thin legs in the number of 4 to 15 pairs, which depends on the age of the individual. This number of limbs provides the insect with incredible speed - up to 40 cm/s.

The hind legs are as long as the nimble whiskers located on the insect’s head and responsible for its coordination, and at their base there are compound, watchful eyes. In addition, the house flycatcher insect has nimble jaws, the task of which is to capture prey and inject poison into its body for further absorption. All this together creates a truly frightening image.

Where does the flycatcher insect live?

The centipede in nature lives in rotten leaves from last year. For the winter, it seeks shelter in cracks of stones or bricks, in the basements of residential buildings or ventilation systems, where it freezes during the period of frost until the first thaw, and then it begins its hunting activity. The common house flycatcher prefers to live in dark, damp and warm places. That’s why basements, bathrooms and kitchens attract her most. You may not even know that a centipede has settled at home and methodically eats cockroaches, because they are awake mainly at night, remaining unnoticed for a long time.

How does the flycatcher insect catch flies?

This number of legs allows the centipede not only to move quickly, but also to hunt effectively. Tenacious hooks on the limbs are another feature that the flycatcher can boast of. The insect stays on the wall as confidently as on the floor, precisely thanks to them. With them, the centipede tightly grasps the prey, brings it to its jaws, with which it pierces the skin of the victim, simultaneously releasing a toxic substance into the wound, which finishes off the unfortunate person.

The house flycatcher insect makes its way into residential buildings closer to autumn, escaping from the cold. At this time, flies, spiders and cockroaches, preparing for hibernation, become slow and clumsy. Therefore, it is not difficult for a centipede to get dinner in a human home, and the home environment gets rid of unwanted insects, so that proximity to a flycatcher can be quite mutually beneficial.

Does the flycatcher insect bite?

The presence of jaws on a centipede immediately raises alarming thoughts. Of course, this predatory insect bites, because this is how it gets its food. A person can also fall under attack if a centipede in his hands feels threatened and needs to defend itself. At the same time, the flycatcher is an insect whose bite is completely harmless to human health and life. The maximum trouble it can cause a person is a burning sensation and minor irritation on the skin.

Insect centipede - appearance, habitat, behavioral features

What does a centipede look like?

House centipede body length

usually about 4–6 cm. The color of the insect varies from yellow-gray to brown. There are three stripes along the back; they come in purple or blue. The centipede has compound eyes, thanks to which it has excellent vision. On the sides of the head there are small antennae, consisting of a large number of segments; they react to changes in air temperature and thereby help the insect navigate in finding the safest places.

The body consists of 15 segments that are capable of supporting the body in weight. The flycatcher has many legs, their length increases as they approach the tail. This structure of the legs allows it to run quickly at speeds of up to 40 cm per second. The number of limbs and segments in millipedes increases as they grow up to 15 pairs. Last pair of legs

It can be so long that it can exceed the size of the insect's body. The first pair of forelimbs in the process of evolution began to represent jaw processes, which greatly help the centipede in hunting.

Where does the centipede live?

These insects live in many countries

temperate climate: Northern Africa, Southern Europe, Middle East. In Russia, the centipede is found in the southern regions, the Volga region, and the middle zone. Usually, the house centipede can be found under stones in the forest, near the roots of trees, in fallen leaves, where it is wet and damp, since they need a moist environment for full life and successful reproduction.

They may appear in a house or apartment in the fall, when it gets cold outside. In winter, centipedes hibernate, and by spring they wake up and become active. In southern countries, this type of insect is treated very well, as they are able to help people destroy pests.

In human habitation

centipedes prefer to live:

• In dark basements.
• In bathrooms and toilets.
• In places with high humidity.

Common flycatchers are predators. They can eat insects that live near them. A centipede living in a person’s house can even be useful, as it helps get rid of cockroaches, flies, spiders, and fleas by feeding on them. Having noticed prey, the flycatcher attacks it, then bites it, injecting poison into the victim’s body, and after that it begins to eat. House centipedes are able to live permanently in people's homes, bringing them only benefits.

Despite this, many are afraid of this insect and believe that the centipede can bite. Fortunately, the venom of the house centipede is dangerous only for small pests, and it does not affect human health in any way. Only in case of individual intolerance to poison

possibly a manifestation of an allergic reaction. Flycatchers bite in self-defense and in very rare cases. They prefer to hide from people, avoiding contact with them.

If you are bitten by a centipede, here's what to do:

1. Be sure to disinfect the bite site with hydrogen peroxide or iodine.
2. If the wound is swollen and a burning sensation is felt around it, you should apply a cold compress and hold it until the unpleasant symptoms disappear.
3. If the pain is severe, you should take painkillers and antihistamines.

Is the bite dangerous for humans?

Having seen at least once how a flycatcher behaves with its prey, anyone wonders whether the centipede is dangerous for humans.

This creature will not bite the skin of an adult, but a child may be harmed. But the poison is too weak to do any harm. Most often, the matter ends with redness and burning at the wound site.

Scolopendras are more dangerous; the content of toxins in their venom causes:

• burning pain;
• swelling at the wound site;
• temperature increase;
• nausea;
• decrease in blood pressure.

Symptoms disappear after 2–3 days. Complications may arise if there is an individual intolerance to the poison.