Myriapods are a family of invertebrates that generally have an elongated body full of legs. Many people fear them because of their appearance and their robustness because their hard “skin” makes them very resistant and of course because of their bite, since this small animal also called a centipede has a very painful bite. Not everything is bad, today we are going to discover its advantages of having it on the farm.
Know the Scholopendra
The centipede is the largest myriapod in Europe, measuring about 17 cm long and in Central and South America it can reach 28 cm. Its body is made up of a head with antennae and jaws called stirrups, where the poison is, a segmented body where each has a pair of legs and the last segment has dorsal appendages that serve to defend itself or attack d other individuals of its species.
Its coloring can be variable, depending on the species and individuals, from grayish tones to brown, black or orange. They are nocturnal animals as they prefer to camp when there is more humidity.
What do centipedes feed on?
They are nocturnal predators that hunt prey like snails, slugs, insects, reptiles, spiders and even small mammals! Its hunting tactic consists of analyzing the vibrations of the ground to know if it is a prey of the right size and even the distance at which it is found and to attack at full speed by biting with the pliers to inject the venom. Although if they find insects or dead animals, they also tend to feed.
Among the insects they can eat any type, the most common being crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, beetles…
They usually live under rocks or under the ground during the day. They are also found under wood, hidden under iron or aluminum plates, blocks or inside the vermicomposter.
Centipede reproduction
The reproduction begins in March until August and is particular because the male expels a package with the sperm outside and the female collects it to fertilize the eggs. The female digs a hole where she lays about 30 eggs, remaining there for a month and a half to protect them until they hatch. Small puppies are the same as adults but smaller. At first they will have a whitish color until the outer part or exoskeleton hardens. As they grow, they will shed their skin. In colder countries, scolopendras remain hidden underground for most of the year, being able to withstand temperatures of up to 10°C.
Worldwide distribution of Scholopendra
There are many species distributed around the world and they can be found on all but the coldest continents like the Arctic or Antarctica. They will always be associated with humidity because without it they could not survive, which is one of the reasons why these animals are nocturnal. They are found in many habitats such as jungles, savannahs, forests, fields, plains, deserts, wetlands, medium mountains…
In Spain it is found in many communities such as Madrid, Asturias, Canary Islands, Andalusia, Catalonia, Galicia… And in America it is common to find them in Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay , Venezuela, Chile and Brazil.
Toxicity of its bite
If you accidentally step on a centipede or mishandle it, it may bite you because it feels threatened. A centipede sting causes intense pain, inflammation and edema but which would eventually disappear within a few days, while in sensitive people it can cause anaphylactic shock, becoming a medical emergency.
What if you find it at home?
If you are afraid of it, it is better to isolate it, for example by placing a trash can or any container on it that prevents it from coming out to prevent it from hiding in an inaccessible place. Keep in mind that they are very dexterous animals with paws that easily stick to surfaces. I do not recommend them to try to kill themselves because it will be a difficult task, I have received cases of people who find them in their homes and the best solution is to release them outside.
You can take an elongated shovel and a brush, put a bucket next to where you have the centipede covered, sweep it up and quickly throw it inside.
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