Fossa animal at home. Fossa is a carnivorous mammal
Scolopendra is an amazing armored insect belonging to the genus of labiopods or arthropod centipedes. Who are the “lipopods”? This is a subclass of insects, also called chilopoda, usually observed in them a large number of legs, like those of the centipede.
Appearance and varieties
Scolopendra resembles a long, thick worm, usually brown or black, sometimes with a hint of green, whose body consists of segments (about twenty or more pieces) and has many pairs of legs extending from each such segment. The first pair of legs of the scolopendra are the so-called maxillae., which are designed to grab the victim.
Externally scolopendra different types may differ slightly in color or functional features. For example, at blind scolopendra very weak jaws, so it will not even be able to bite through human skin, although a bird that inadvertently eats such an insect will receive sufficient quantity poison to die soon. U centipede flycatchers
, on the contrary, the eyes are very developed, and the adaptability to a dry climate is higher than that of the others. And here is the Vietnamese scolopendra ostigmus (Otostigmus aculeatus) emits a luminescent liquid with the smell of phosphorus, which causes quite severe burns. There are also such African centipedes (rhisides, alipes), which can, with the help hind legs
make a chirping sound that scares off other insects and enemies, but has no effect on members of its own species.
Distribution in nature and habitats Now scientists know about six hundred species of centipedes. They like warm climate
, therefore they live mainly in the tropics (for example, in Australia), but sometimes they are found in colder climates. The largest representative of its species is giant centipede with a body length of about 30 cm . She lives in the western part South America
Smaller insects also live in colder climates; for example, the Crimean fauna includes a large number of these centipedes. Scolopendras try to spend less time on the surface of the earth, especially in dry climates, since deficiencies in the covering of their body do not allow them to preserve their vitality for a long time. important moisture inside – it evaporates very quickly. This is why they prefer moist, shady places.
Scolopendra is popularly called the centipede. These arthropods can have from 15 to 171 body segments, or from 30 to 342 legs. But they always have an odd number of pairs of legs, so in reality centipedes do not occur in nature.
Scolopendras live much longer than most arthropods. Many species live up to 2-3 years. Surprisingly, they grow throughout life.
Poison and hunting
Scolopendras are predators. The front jaws of this insect are connected to poisonous glands, so that when capturing a victim, they release this poison into its body.
The venom contains substances such as histamine, acetylocholine, serotonin, thermolysins, hyaluronidase, but it is always used sparingly: scolopendra does not bite everyone. This insect can hunt both underground, climbing into numerous passages dug by other insects and animals, and on the ground, attacking grasshoppers and even frogs.
By the way, they can also fight among themselves, and the fight most often goes to the death! Note!
Even if the centipede does not bite a person, but only crawls across the skin, the mucus it leaves behind can cause severe burns (this applies to the ringed subspecies)!
A bite from a tropical centipede can be fatal (over the last hundred years, only three such deaths have been officially registered), but if you encounter this militant insect in our latitudes and receive a bite, you should not worry too much, since the poisonous liquid of these species causes only only swelling of the skin and pain that goes away after a couple of hours. However, you still need to be careful and not expose yourself to unnecessary danger when encountering a centipede: you can never be 100% sure that a bite will not cause a fever and an increase in temperature or a severe allergic reaction.
How to protect yourself from scolopendra bites and what to do after? Based on this, anyone can protect themselves from its bites by following a few simple rules:
- When camping with a tent, carefully check its insides before going to bed.
- Close the tents tightly so that no insects can get inside.
- In the morning, carefully inspect your clothes and shoes if you spent the night in the forest or other natural places, where the described centipedes may be found.
- If you decide to get a scolopendra, how pet, do not touch it with bare hands, use gloves or tongs.
If you still cannot avoid the bite, take the following actions:
- Wash the affected area with water and disinfectant.
- Apply a sterile dressing.
- If the venom causes severe pain, apply a cold compress.
- Provide rest to the person who has been bitten.
- Be sure to make sure you drink plenty of fluids.
- Go to the hospital.
Reproduction and lifespan
A favorable time for multi-legged insects to reproduce is mid-spring. Only the female can participate in the process of fertilization of eggs (this phenomenon is called “parthenogenesis”): she lays eggs and after hatching small centipedes, which at first look like worms, crawls away after a few days.
On a note! Scolopendra's life in natural conditions has not been fully studied, but in captivity (in an apartment) this insect lives up to seven years!
Scolopendra in dreams and on the body...
On a note. If you dream of a scolopendra, take a close look at the people who surround you: perhaps among them there is your hidden enemy or a person who is posing as someone else, that is, simply deceiving you.
Moreover, a large number of such insects in a dream foreshadows the loss of money, and if you crush one of them, this portends victory over the enemy (enemies). And if you saw in a dream how centipedes bite you, this means that someone is “vampiring” your vital energy in fact.
Interesting! A scolopendra tattoo usually means “Careful, I’m dangerous, don’t come near me!”
Video
Scolopendra is quite dangerous and aggressive predator in its habitat. In addition to this, she has a very vile and repulsive appearance, but is absolutely indifferent to people. The centipede is by nature very dangerous creature, hunts both insects and larger animals: large spiders, beetles, lizards, birds and even some types of snakes.
Today on the planet there are about 600 species of these predators. True centipedes belong to a species of labiopods from the order Scolopendra. Special Representatives This population includes Californian, ringed and giant centipedes.
Gallery: giant scolopendra (25 photos)
Lifestyle and hunting
Giant scolopendra is a heat-loving representative of the genus of millipedes. It lives in countries with warm or tropical climates. The order belongs to the nocturnal inhabitants of their places of life cycle, with daylight and in open space, does not feel comfortable enough. All scolopendras move quite quickly, but the giant one is particularly fast. Scolopendras live mainly underground or in dark and damp shelters, old lying trees, etc. Since their bodies do not have reliable protection and very quickly lose moisture, animals prefer night look life and damp, secluded shelters.
Hunting
The scolopendra predator is a very skilled hunter, usually hunting at night, catches the prey in a vulnerable state and does its job very quickly and brutally. The predator's diet includes larvae, beetles, earthworms etc. The giant one prefers a larger catch; its diet includes spiders, beetles, lizards, some types of snakes, birds and even bats. This species, due to its speed, is capable of hunting in harsh conditions and catch prey by surprise.
When attacking a victim, grabs her with his paws and injects a dose of paralytic poison into her body, holding her until she loses the ability to resist. Then the process of food absorption begins. When attacked by the largest species of these creatures (Skolopendra gigantea), more big catch(lizard, snake, bat), the predator, after injecting poison and paralyzing its victim, begins its meal by eating the brain, since it contains the most nutritious and useful substances.
Sometimes you come across equal opponents, in a fight with which it is the opponent who often gains the upper hand. These are several types of beetles, a praying mantis, etc. - the first have too strong a shell, while others are simply stronger than it in a fight.
Relationships between individuals
The predator prefers a solitary lifestyle. Contact between two males occurs quite peacefully. This species has the habit of devouring its own kind, especially in captivity, most often these are young individuals. IN natural conditions Such cases occur extremely rarely!
What does scolopendra look like?
A meeting between a man and a giant centipede and what it threatens
The danger of this animal is greatly exaggerated. All representatives of this species are poisonous because they have glands with neurotoxin. But the scolopendra venom represents death threat Only for insects and small animals.
Human skin is too tough for them, so the possibility of death when meeting it is excluded, although contact with a centipede can cause inflammation of the skin and an allergic reaction. In the case of the largest representative of the species, everything is different. Given its size, it is capable of producing quite painful bite, which causes swelling of a large area of the body and may be accompanied by burning and itching. The injury after such a bite takes a long time to heal, on average from 4 to 6 days. As mentioned earlier, the majority of these animals are practically harmless, but in any case there are exceptions!
The danger posed by a scolopendra bite is depends on the type, to which she belongs. When it bites through the skin, a dose of poison is released, which is accompanied by burning, swelling, weakness and dizziness. The only recorded death occurred in a small child, from the venom of Skolopendra subspinipes. This species has several names: orange scolopendra, Chinese and Vietnamese.
Some species of these predators, if disturbed, are capable of secreting a liquid that leaves burns on the skin. For example, this ability has California scolopendra.
After being bitten by a predator, it is necessary urgently wash the wound, apply something cold to it and immediately consult a doctor. Tetanus prophylaxis is often prescribed and certain group analgesics.
The most dangerous are female centipedes; their venom is more toxic and poses a danger to people with weak immune functions, those suffering from allergic diseases and children.
How to protect yourself from a scolopendra bite in nature
If you go out into nature, you should remember a few rules to avoid unwanted contact and injury.
Features of the predator in facts: the most interesting things about the giant centipede
In the past, the ancient Greeks called all centipedes centipedes. It is very difficult to kill this animal; due to its flat physique, it is almost impossible to crush it. In addition to this, centipedes are very nimble and move quite quickly. Therefore, it is better to avoid contact in order to avoid unpleasant consequences.
The giant scolopendra is very often kept in captivity by special fans of centipedes. The predator is very interesting to watch, but should not be underestimated - this is a very fast and aggressive animal. People who have no experience or understanding of these predatory animals should deny themselves this joy in order to avoid accidental surprises. Since the animal has a flat and very flexible body, it can easily fit into the crack of a terrarium, etc. In captivity they live quite a long time, approximately four and a half years, if cared for in accordance with the rules.
Attention, TODAY only!
The giant centipede belongs to the genus of labiopods, the centipede family. These are nocturnal arthropods that most lives are spent underground. They are loners, but if they encounter their own kind, they usually scatter in different directions.
In rare cases, they show aggression and bite each other, in which case the meeting ends in death for one of the parties. Females are considered especially poisonous.
At night, centipedes go out hunting for invertebrates and their larvae; there are known cases of attacks on lizards, small birds, even bats. They kill the victim by plunging their poisonous jaws into its body and wrapping it around their long body.
The breeding season is late spring - early summer, usually these creatures lay eggs after mating, some species can reproduce without the participation of males.
Natural enemies in nature include cats, foxes, rats, rooks, geckos and snakes.
Appearance
The body length of the giant scolopendra is on average 26 cm, it is divided into a head and a long body consisting of many (21-23) segments. On the head there are jaws equipped with poisonous spines.
Her eyes have a simple structure, so they see poorly; her vision is replaced by touch and smell. Each segment of the body has a pair of legs; the rear pair drags, clinging to clods of earth, thus helping with movement.
The color depends on the habitat: from lemon yellow to red-brown, in some countries the color can be green or blue.
Habitat
As already mentioned, scolopendras spend most of their time underground in a hole, besides this, their favorite places- shadow under stones, fallen trees, in rocks. They prefer to live in subtropical and tropical climate with good air humidity. Giant individuals live in South America, Jamaica, and the island of Trinidad.
Types of centipedes
Ringed- 14-17 cm in length, can be black, olive, orange and brownish. The species is distributed in Turkey, Spain, Italy, the south of France, Israel, Crimea, and North Africa.
- up to 18 cm, lives in Central America, on the Virgin and Hawaiian Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Bahamas, the Dominican Republic, the Antilles, and northern South America. Color: black head, dark green body with a blue tint, other individuals have a red head, olive body.
- up to 20 cm, color: burgundy with brown, yellow-green, orange, red. Live in North America.
- up to 13 cm, orange, yellow or olive in color, head and limbs red, common in the USA and Algeria.
- up to 13 cm, in pet stores it is presented as “Texas tiger”, “striped tiger”. Lives in North America, has a bright, varied color.
- about 20 cm, inhabits the tropics of Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, orange-brown color.
Did you know? Scientists of antiquity, such as Aristotle, Claudius Aelian, Ulysses Androvandi, described the scolopendra as a terrible sea monster with hairy nostrils the size of a whale.
In captivity, centipedes live for about six to seven years, reproduce well, but it is advisable to remove the young, as cases of cannibalism have been observed.
Nutrition
Centipede diet:
- defrosted mice,
- crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches;
- shrimps, scallops;
- small fish.
Important! At home, scolopendra is practically omnivorous, but it cannot be given more than five, for example, crickets per week, due to its digestive characteristics.
Arrangement of the terrarium
For the ward, you need to choose a terrarium that will significantly exceed its length, the approximate dimensions, not counting the height of the soil, are 30x40x30 cm. Peat and sand are used as soil, preferably the presence of living plants, you can place a couple of large stones and driftwood.
The top of the terrarium must be closed so that the pet does not escape. It is imperative to place a container of water; the depth should allow the centipede to submerge in the water, but not drown. Content temperature: +25 °C...+27 °C. To maintain the required humidity, part of the substrate must be moistened regularly.
Rules
Scolopendra is not a pet that can be caressed, stroked and squeezed. Not having good eyesight, she may perceive you as an enemy and bite. Its bite is not fatal to humans, but very painful. Its venom causes swelling, temperature and fever symptoms. The mucus that it secretes from the glands is also poisonous and causes skin burns.
Important! Since the effect of the poison is destroyed under the influence high temperatures and ethers, you should immediately treat a bite or burn with alcohol, you can disinfect it with a solution of potassium permanganate and apply a sterile bandage, then be sure to see a doctor.
Scolopendra and man
Centipede venom is used in Chinese medicine to treat rheumatic pain, skin and kidney diseases. In the cuisine of some Asian and African countries Scolopendra, strung on a stick and fried, is a delicacy for tourists, a common dish for locals.
There have been no reported deaths from arthropod bites, except for one case in the Philippines. There, a seven-year-old child died from the poison; the bite hit his head. From this we can conclude: a danger still exists if the victim has a weakened or insufficiently strong immune system, he is susceptible to allergic reactions if he is not provided with qualified assistance in a timely manner.
Did you know? In China there is a legend about the dragon king Lung Wang. One day he fell ill, and no one could heal him until one of the healers discovered a centipede behind the dragon's scales. The doctor removed the centipede and anointed the burn with ointment; as a sign of gratitude, the dragon king promised to send people favorable weather. Until now, Healing Day is celebrated annually in China; during the holiday, a dragon dance is always performed.
A passion for exotic things can lead to undesirable consequences, so before getting pets like scolopendra, you should think carefully. If you do decide, follow safety precautions in your behavior with such a pet “animal”.
Centipedes are becoming increasingly popular among exotic pet collectors. There are about 2,800 known species of centipedes, some of which have not yet been classified. The Peruvian scolopendra is a member of the class Chilopoda, a phylum of arthropods, the order Scolopendra, and the genus Gigantea. Peruvian centipedes are the largest in the world. They are fast and aggressive, like any scolopendra. Some of these animals make great objects to watch.
Ringed centipede
Giant scolopendra
The giant (Peruvian) scolopendra is the largest representative of its genus (up to 26 cm), which lives in tropical and subtropical regions of northern South America, Brazil and Peru, on the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica. Feeds large insects, lizards, frogs, mice and birds. The body consists of 21-23 segments, the legs are adapted for fast walking (even running) and holding prey.
Centipede venom contains acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin, etc. and its effect has not yet been fully studied. The bite is always accompanied by sharp pain (similar to a hornet bite), severe swelling, chills, fever (up to 39º), and weakness. Females are more poisonous, therefore more dangerous, than males.
Indeed, the bite of some tropical species very painful and causes inflammation of the areas of skin where they crawled, but this can only happen if the animal feels in danger. The green Californian scolopendra - Scolopendra heros - is most famous for this. Similar effects are caused by the poisonous species Scolupendra cingulata, which lives in Europe.
Scolopendra poison has been known to people since ancient times. It was highly praised by the Chinese traditional medicine How effective remedy from rheumatism, kidney stones, some skin diseases. Scolopendras have found another application in people's lives: they have become an integral component of Thai and African cuisine.
These showy animals tend to elicit a lot of reactions from friends, family and neighbors, so check with them before bringing these insects into your home. Giant centipedes are poisonous. They kill their prey with jaws that contain poison. The jaws are located on the head, have venom glands and secrete a neurotoxin that paralyzes the prey, but allows it to remain alive and breathe. Some people are very sensitive to this poison, so they should never touch giant centipedes! When the giant Peruvian scolopendra bites, it sinks its fangs into the arm and then wraps itself around it. There is a possibility that the hand will then become permanently numb after intense pain. Even common house centipedes are poisonous, so don't mess with them either.
Millipedes breathe through openings on the sides of their bodies, called spiracles. They are located between the upper and lower chitinous shields and just behind the legs. The air passes through thin tubes - tracheas. Oxygen enters the body through the trachea, a process called diffusion. They lead into a large tracheal chamber that supplies oxygen to various parts of the body. In the great centipede (Peruvian centipede), the spiracles are located on segments 4, 6, 8, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, and 21. The holes are round, triangular or S-shaped. Unlike insects, centipedes' spiracles do not close, so dehydration can occur quite quickly. Blood flows through a vessel located directly under the exoskeleton on the back. Nervous system centipedes consists of relatively big brain, associated with the abdominal chain of ganglia, and two nerve trunks stretched along the entire length of the body. The centipede's eyes are simple, seeing only shadows and light, so the senses of smell and touch are very important to it.
When a centipede eats, the food passes through the stomach, where it is crushed into small pieces. You can observe by feeding the centipede live crickets and cockroaches. Beware, if you offer your centipede 3 to 5 live crickets or cockroaches at once, it may be too stressful for her and may result in her death. Most centipedes do not like a lot of live food.
My friends' giant scolopendra named Cutie, for example, much prefers defrosted mice or crickets (she does not eat them alive), raw shrimp, scallops, clams, etc. Sometimes she is pampered with young anoles or goldfish. Honestly, she has almost everything.
Unlike most animals, scolopendras are very difficult to determine sex, even in adults. The male produces spermatophores, which are introduced into the female's reproductive organ. The female fertilizes the eggs when they are laid, and often protects them with her body until they are mature. Since it is difficult to determine the sex of scolopendras, sometimes the only way to find out is to place them together. If you get it wrong, one of them will just become an expensive lunch for the other :-).
Giant centipedes reach sexual maturity at 4 years. No one knows how long these creatures can live, presumably about 10 years, small centipedes about 8 years.
The recently molted centipede consists of two parts - the head and body, and 21 well-defined sections. The head is covered with a flat screen and has a pair of antennae. A modified pair of legs on the head (jaws) have strong joints that end in fangs where venom glands are located. Such glands are present only on one pair of legs, consisting of two sections. Both sections are enclosed in a chitinous exoskeleton.
Centipedes molt periodically, and important role Humidity plays a role in this process. If there is an excess of moisture, the exoskeleton becomes too soft; if there is a lack of moisture, the molting process can be very difficult. During molting, the centipede's body becomes stretched. The legs seem to sink into the body, and the scolopendra loses interest in food for several weeks. Between the first and second segments of the posterior plate, a division occurs and the centipede emerges through this hole. After this process, the exoskeleton of the scolopendra is very soft and flexible; you should try not to disturb the animal, as it is very vulnerable at this time. Many millipedes eat their skin after molting.
The height of the aquarium in which you plan to place your centipede should be slightly greater than its own length. These animals are simply created for escape. A centipede can climb up the wall of an aquarium using only its last pair of legs. The aquarium should be twice as long as the centipede, and, according to at least, the same as it is wide. Even a large centipede can fit into a small hole. Therefore, a tight-fitting lid will help prevent escape. Do not place the centipede in a plastic container or cardboard shoe box. You'll sleep better at night knowing your ward is locked in with maximum security.
Millipedes, like most animals, need water. The depth of the water container should allow it to be completely submerged. In a deeper container, you can add peat to the water to prevent your pet from drowning. The temperature in the aquarium should be maintained in the range from 24 to 30 degrees.
The substrate for the aquarium is prepared from a mixture of vermiculite with peat and sand. You can use a mixture of small pebbles and peat, but this is not a good idea if you are sleeping with a centipede in the same room. At night you can hear her moving stones from one end of the aquarium to the other. Cutie, for example, loves to take pebbles in her mouth and drag them to the corner. He also carried pieces of moss to make a small cave near the corner of the aquarium. Centipedes love to hide under moss. Only by having housing does a centipede feel safe, otherwise it will try to build its own. She feels much happier if she has her own home.
December 20th, 2016
Scolopendras are the largest labiopods, living mainly in the tropics and subtropics; only a few species penetrate into colder zones. Most scolopendras live under stones, under logs, in rock cracks and other similar shelters, where during dry times of the day the air is saturated with water vapor. Due to this, the body of scolopendras is strongly flattened in the dorso-ventral direction. Centipedes come out of hiding almost exclusively at night, hunting for various invertebrates, although there are also known cases of large centipedes attacking birds, lizards and toads. The giant scolopendra reaches a length of 26 cm and is found on the islands of Jamaica and Trinidad and in the north and west of South America.
Centipedes are individualists and live alone. But if two centipedes suddenly meet in the same underground passage, they usually crawl away peacefully. It happens that males cling to each other with their hind legs and sit like that for more than an hour, and then still crawl to the sides. But they can also bite each other - then in half the cases the centipedes die. In captivity, it happens that hungry adult centipedes kill and eat young ones, but in nature, apparently, cannibalism does not occur very often.
At the end of spring - beginning of summer, scolopendras begin to reproduce - the male weaves a web around his earthen passage and lays a spermatophore - a sperm sac - on it. Then he pushes the female, forcing her to crawl over the spermatophore and pick it up to fertilize the eggs. In Crimea, there are populations of only female scolopendras; they reproduce parthenogenetically, without the participation of males. The female guards the laid eggs in a burrow for several weeks, wrapping her legs around them. At this moment she highlights special substances, which inhibit the development of mold. Finally, the young larvae emerge - white and soft.
Having moulted several times, they darken and crawl away, starting to independent life. But until maturity, their color will be lighter than that of adults. Life cycle centipedes have a longer lifespan than many insects, and is about small species on average 1-2 years. large scorpopendras can live up to 6 years, at least in captivity.
Currently, more than 550 species of scolopendra have been described. These are mainly inhabitants of the tropics and subtropics, only a few reach Europe and Far East. The ringed scolopendra is common in our country, Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Transcaucasia and Central Asia there are several more similar, smaller species. In the Primorsky Territory there were isolated finds of Asian centipedes otostigmus and subspinipes. The latter, Scolopendra subspinipes, is widespread in South Asia and reaches a length of 20 cm. There is a known case in which a seven-year-old child died from its bite to the head in the Philippines - this is the only reliably recorded case of human death from centipede venom.
And in general, a person rarely has the opportunity to be bitten by a scolopendra - unless it accidentally runs into his home at night and is accidentally crushed. Centipedes use their venom sparingly and can bite several times in a row. In humans, their bites cause local swelling and pain, usually lasting 1-2 hours. If the scolopendra is large, these phenomena can last for several days, and the temperature may rise.
Centipede venom contains lecithin, histamine, thermolysins, and hyaluronidase. It is well preserved in the cold, but is quickly destroyed when heated, under the influence of ether, ethyl alcohol, strong alkalis. Therefore, when bitten by large centipedes, it is recommended to slightly incise the wounds from the jaws and wash them with alcohol, a strong solution of potassium permanganate or ammonia.
The largest scolopendra, the giant scolopendra (Scolopendra gigantea), can reach more than 26 cm in length. She was even credited with attacks on toads, lizards and chicks. This species lives in the Antilles and northwestern South America.
Representatives of the genus of blind centipedes - Cryptops - live in the upper layer of soil; these animals almost never come to the surface. They are also poisonous, but their weak jaws cannot bite through the skin. These small yellow-brown centipedes, 3-4 cm long, are found in the steppes and gardens up to the latitude of Moscow, that is, much north of the real centipedes. But in the tropics their diversity is much greater and they are colored bluish, greenish, reddish, yellow, and violet.
The California green centipede (Scolopendra heros) is diurnal, and when disturbed, it secretes a substance that irritates the skin if the centipede runs over the body, scratching it with its claws. By the way, when our ringed scolopendra runs along the hand, it tingles the body with its claws and leaves red dots on it, which, however, quickly disappear.
The Vietnamese scolopendra otostigmus (Otostigmus aculeatus) secretes a luminescent liquid with the smell of phosphorus - it causes severe burns and inflammation of the skin.
Some African centipedes can make chirping and crackling noises with their rear pairs of legs, which scares away enemies, such as centipedes rhizidae, alipes, and South African centipedes. Interestingly, they themselves do not react to sound.
Small relatives of scolopendras - drupes (Lithobiomorpha) are widespread. In the Caucasus, cases are described when they accidentally got into the stomach along with fruit or crawled into the nose of a sleeping person. But this happens rarely. More northern drupes lead an inconspicuous terrestrial lifestyle. Sometimes they are found in cities near the damp foundations of houses. Drupes feed on small soil inhabitants: nematode worms, oligochaetes, and beetle larvae. They also have poison glands, but their jaws cannot pierce human skin.
From predatory centipedes The scutigera flycatcher (Scutigera coleoptrata) with 15 pairs of long legs and long antennae is also noticeable. She runs along walls and hunts flies and other small insects. The flycatcher has many eyes; their clusters resemble the compound eyes of insects and are apparently used for hunting. The flycatcher is more adapted to dry air than other centipedes and is more often found during the day, although in hot, sundial still hiding in a shelter. At the same time, it can be active at more low temperatures than many insects - this helps her in hunting. Now the flycatcher has become rare in Crimea and is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.
In general, centipedes suffer greatly from mass application pesticides. But let's hope that they will still remain in the future as an essential element of the soil fauna.
Living in our southern regions Centipedes, as a rule, do not bite, but, nevertheless, if this “cute insect” runs over a person’s body, it will not bring much joy, since scalding mucus will remain on the skin. Unfortunately, this creature is active at night, loves to crawl into residential buildings (well, as they say, it’s a sin not to crawl into tourist tents) and hide in a secluded place. During the day, she strives to hide somewhere under a stone, in small cracks in the soil or in burrows. In general, in most cases scolopendras are not too aggressive.
If she defends herself, she can jump high and run away quite quickly. Sometimes, if you accidentally press down or pick it up, it can bite. True, scolopendra rarely bites; usually it is limited to scalding mucus. One pair of scolopendra legs forms the so-called jaws with claws, connected to poisonous glands. The hind pair of legs are special dragging legs that help cling to clods of soil.
Scolopendra is a good hunter. Although she spends most of her time underground, and, accordingly, she has great problems with vision, she has an excellent sense of touch. The victims are earthworms, beetles, and larvae. On the ground surface it attacks flying insects, such as wasps or flies. Large species Scolopendras, living in the tropics, can hunt birds, lizards and frogs.
True, scolopendra never stays long on an open surface; it is much more comfortable in the ground. There she moves much faster than on the surface. Various small insects, also tending to various cracks in the soil, often end up with scolopendra for lunch. Having grabbed a potential victim with its front legs, the scolopendra plunges its poisonous jaws into it and begins to slowly chew. In general, the process of eating by scolopendra is very, very long. After each meal she takes a short break. It cleans itself often and a lot, passing its legs and antennae on both sides, alternately, through the mandibles.
In our country, centipedes are found in the south. Fortunately, of the more than six hundred species of scolopendra that exist on globe, living in our country, as well as in Crimea and Transcaucasia, do not pose any particular danger. The most common species in our south is the ringed scolopendra (Scolopendra cingulata), measuring approximately 10 centimeters. The most unpleasant time for encounters with scolopendra in the south of Russia and Crimea is spring and autumn.
Scolopendras are especially poisonous in the spring. Most species of scolopendra live in the tropics, and, as a rule, they are poisonous and can cause real danger for a person. For example, the Vietnamese scolopendra secretes mucus with the smell of phosphorus, which causes severe burns and inflammation of the skin. The green Californian scolopendra is also poisonous.
The largest centipedes live in Australia and Brazil - purple, red and yellow color. They can reach a length of up to 30 centimeters. In an adult, scolopendra bites usually cause focal local swelling; bites of some tropical scolopendra species can also cause an increase in temperature. Naturally, for people with weakened bodies and for children, as well as people prone to allergic reactions, scolopendra bites can cause much more harm. Known deaths For example, in the Philippines, a seven-year-old child died from a scolopendra bite to the head.
If you are bitten or burned by a scolopendra, you must go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible, after, if possible, treating the affected area with alcohol and applying a sterile bandage.
And here are some other cockroaches: or Here is another beauty -