Question to a psychologist 

What is scolopendra? Scolopendra is a poisonous centipede. Scolopendra versicolor or tiger

One of the most dangerous and repulsive animals on Earth is the giant scolopendra. She is extremely fast, stealthy and aggressive. The predator attacks not only insects, its prey includes rodents, birds and lizards. The dexterity of centipedes is evidenced by cases when they climbed to the ceiling of a cave to catch bat. While holding the prey with its forelimbs, the animal clung to the surface with only a few hind legs.

Appearance and habitats

The Latin name of the representative of the labiopod centipedes is Scolopendra gigantean. They live in South America, on the islands of Jamaica, Haiti, and Trinidad. The places where scolopendras live are tropical and subtropical rain forests. The body of a carnivore consists of 21-23 segments, each with a pair of legs. Average length giant - 30-35 cm, but there are known cases of catching an arthropod 45 cm long.

The lifespan of centipedes is 3-7 years. As they grow, they molt several times, shedding their chitinous exoskeleton. Before molting, the scolopendra does not hunt for several days. The shell cracks, starting from the head, and the centipede crawls out of it, becoming 1.5 cm longer.

Interesting fact. Individualists by nature, scolopendras in nature rarely conflict with each other. If males bite each other in fights, then in half of the cases this leads to death. In captivity, adult individuals eat young offspring out of hunger; in freedom, cannibalism is not observed.

The giant scolopendra captures prey with its front pair of limbs, transformed into jaws with claws and poisonous glands. The hind legs are longer, with which the animal pushes off when moving. Each limb is 25 mm, with a sharp claw at the end. Their eyesight is poor, so scolopendras do not think twice before attacking, preferring to immobilize anything suspicious with poison.

Scolopendra looks like all centipedes - a segmented body with many movable limbs. A pair of segmented antennae are noticeable on the flat head. At their base there are simple eyes. Its coloring includes all sorts of bright colors, their shades and combinations. There are black, red, orange, blue, yellow and purple centipedes. Their unusual appearance makes them a desirable acquisition for collectors. Many people keep centipedes in a terrarium.

Lifestyle

How scolopendra attacks

Animals go hunting at night, preferring to wait out the heat of the day in a shelter. What does scolopendra eat? She is a predator, so her diet consists of only caught prey. Invertebrates and small animals cannot escape from the rapid rush and paralyzing poison. Young individuals feed on insects, while adults attack anyone who is not larger than the centipede itself. It could be a small snake, bird or lizard.

Attention. The venom of the giant tropical scolopendra is dangerous to humans. It causes numbness and temporary paralysis. The pain is equivalent to the sting of 20 bees.

The centipede eats its prey for several hours, biting off pieces from living but paralyzed prey. Its primitive digestive system, so it takes a long time to saturate. After the meal, the animal washes itself, passing the antennae and legs alternately through the jaws.

Reproduction

The breeding season occurs at the end of spring - beginning of summer. The male leaves a spermatophore - a sac with seed, and the female crawls through it, picking up the sperm. To lay eggs, the female digs a hole. This unpleasant animal is a caring mother. She protects the eggs and emerging babies by wrapping her legs around them. There are up to 100 centipedes in one clutch. The mother violently attacks anyone who approaches the shelter. It not only protects the eggs, but cleans them so they don't become moldy. Small centipedes are white in color and their bodies are soft.

The family does not stay together for long; the scolopendra soon crawls away. The offspring grows quickly, surviving several molts. Centipedes' bodies darken, but the colors will change until they reach maturity. Cases are common when larger individuals eat smaller ones.

Varieties of centipedes

Among the many families of labiopods, tropical centipedes are distinguished by their diversity of species, large size and special danger. They can cause significant harm not only to animals, but also to humans. European species are much smaller in size, their length does not exceed 8-14 cm.

Interesting fact. The common flycatcher, which can often be found in the house, is a relative of the centipede. An adult reaches a size of 6 cm and has long legs and antennae. The body is yellowish with purple stripes. The flycatcher preys on spiders, flies, cockroaches, and fleas. The centipede does not show aggression; its weak jaws are unable to bite through human skin.

Why are centipedes dangerous?

The venom of the giant scolopendra will not kill healthy person, but will cause pain, swelling, numbness, weakness, and possibly shock. These symptoms will last for several hours or days. The wound should be washed with a strong alkaline solution made from baking soda. For people prone to allergies, poison entering the bloodstream can be dangerous. They should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible to avoid suffocation and cardiac paralysis.

Crimean centipede

The Crimean Peninsula is where the scolopendra lives in Russia. This small animal belongs to the ringed species. It cannot compete in size with its larger relatives; its body length is 12 cm. For many, the creature looks frightening and unpleasant. The head and shell of this variety are uniformly black in color, the legs are golden brown or yellow. Large quantity limbs helps the centipede climb steep slopes. Its venom is much weaker than that of the tropical scolopendra, but the bites are still painful.

Advice. If you stay overnight in the forest, close your tent, and in the morning, shake off your clothes, where the centipede might be hiding. Check your belongings to make sure you don't bring it home.

Attention. The ringed scolopendra is not afraid of being close to humans; it crawls into houses and basements, and hides in toilets and bathrooms. When confronting a centipede, be careful not to provoke an attack.

Scientists know about 90 species of scolopendra, all of them are poisonous and aggressive. People should avoid contact with centipedes, and those who keep them at home should closely monitor the fast and agile pet.

The house scolopendra, or common flycatcher, is a multi-legged creature that quite often settles in residential premises, which causes some discomfort to people. The Mediterranean is considered its homeland, but today it can be found on our mainland, as well as in North America.

Description

As you can see in the photo, the domestic scolopendra has an elongated body of yellowish-gray or brown, decorated with three dark stripes. Moreover, its dimensions can range from 3.5 to 6 cm.

The external, or external, skeleton consists of sclerotin and chitinous cover. The body has a flattened shape and is divided into 15 segments, each of which bears a pair of legs. The longest walking limbs are the latter.

Note! In their shape and structure, the last pair of legs more closely resembles antennae.

It is the last legs, because of their appearance often make it difficult to determine where the flycatcher’s head is. The front pair of legs are well developed - with them the scolopendra captures prey and attacks the enemy.

The head has compound eyes and long 600-segment whip-like antennae.

The body structure of young flycatchers is somewhat different. They have only four pairs of walking limbs. Their number increases with each molt - the domestic scolopendra acquires several legs after each molt: at first there are 10 of them, then 14, 18 and 26. After last shift chitinous cover, the number of legs reaches 30.

Lifestyle and behavior

House scolopendra is able to remain active at any time of the day. It moves at an enviable speed - about 40 cm/sec. When moving, the flycatcher lifts its long body above the ground and deftly rearranges its numerous legs.

A pair of compound eyes are quite well developed, which allows this scolopendra to detect prey without much effort. For this reason, she is an excellent hunter. Sitting on the wall, the flycatcher waits for prey, ready at any moment to pounce on any careless insect.

As for the taste preferences of this centipede, it can eat:

  • flies and their larvae;
  • crickets;
  • worms;
  • silver coins;
  • snails;
  • fleas;
  • cockroaches;
  • moth;
  • ants.

The domestic scolopendra is “informed” that a potential victim is nearby not only by its eyes, but also by its long, hypersensitive antennae, which are capable of recognizing both touches and smells. As soon as the prey is in the paws, the flycatcher immediately plunges its fangs into its body and injects poison. And after the meal, she tries to hide in a dark place and wait until the food is digested.

Relationships with a person

Having seen this creature in their apartment, quite a lot of people wonder why the domestic scolopendra is dangerous. In fact, these unpleasant-looking individuals are considered useful in some way. Thanks to their ability to kill insects, they can help you get rid of many pests.

Note! By the way, the taste preferences of the flycatcher in most cases make it clear why it chose your home!

If we talk about whether the domestic scolopendra is dangerous for humans, then it is not capable of causing much harm. Living in residential areas, these creatures will feed exclusively on insects or small arthropods, without touching plants, food supplies, furniture, or wallpaper.

Since the flycatcher's jaws are quite weak, it is not capable of biting through our skin. And if she manages to do this, then there will be no particular harm - the concentration of the poison is too low, not only for humans, but also for pets. In addition, they bite extremely rarely and exclusively for the purpose of self-defense.

Fighting methods

House scolopendra, despite its name, most of lives in conditions wildlife. It usually settles under trees or under fallen leaves. It overwinters in secluded places, and with the arrival of stable warmth, it gets out of the shelter and goes in search of food.

In the autumn, when the temperature drops again, flycatchers flock to warm residential buildings and, if there is sufficient humidity and plentiful food, happily remain there. And the owners of apartments and houses immediately face the question of how to get rid of the domestic centipede.

  • first of all, it is necessary to remove dampness and reduce humidity, special attention should be paid to the bathroom, kitchen and bathroom, in addition, it is recommended to ventilate the pantry;
  • Sticky traps can help catch flycatchers - they are placed in the above rooms and changed as they are filled;
  • if you find only one centipede, then simply throw it out of the house;

    Note! As a rule, these creatures penetrate residential buildings alone and extremely rarely settle in colonies!

  • Aerosol insecticides cope quite well with centipedes, and you can use any preparation against crawling insects: “Raptor”, “Combat”, “Raid”, etc.
  • you can also use poisonous gels - among the most effective are Globol, Fas and Sturm;
  • give special attention destruction of domestic insects - if the scolopendra does not have anything to eat, then soon it will leave your house on its own;
  • close everything possible ways centipede penetration - inspect the foundation, floor, walls, window frames and doorways and if cracks are found, repair them immediately.

In a word, in order to get rid of domestic scolopendra, you need to establish ideal order in your home and try to constantly maintain it. Avoid stagnation of water and high humidity, carry out timely control of small pests and clean up the yard.

May 14th, 2013

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, it releases special substances that inhibit the development of mold. Finally, the young larvae emerge - white and soft. After molting several times, they darken and crawl away, beginning an independent life. But until maturity, their color will be lighter than that of adults. Life cycle The lifespan of centipedes is longer than that of many insects, averaging 1–2 years in small species. 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, and 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.

Among the 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 the massive use of pesticides. But let's hope that they will still remain in the future as an essential element of the soil fauna.

Centipedes living in our southern regions, 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 rear pair of legs are special dragging legs that help cling to lumps 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, 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 as scolopendra's 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 centipedes existing on the globe, those living in our country, as well as in the 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 pose a real danger to humans. For example, the Vietnamese scolopendra secretes mucus with the smell of phosphorus, which causes the most 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. 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. There are 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.

Http://shkolazhizni.ru/archive/0/n-43651/ , http://www.zooeco.com/0-dom/0-dom-a1-001-1.html

And here are some other cockroaches: or Here is another beauty - The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -

Scolopendra is an armored arthropod that belongs to the genus of labiopods, also called Chilopoda or centipede arthropods. Lives in a variety of climatic conditions, but prefers tropical climate. Various individuals can live in the desert, mountains, forests, limestone caves and many other places. In those regions where it is not too warm, the centipede grows from a centimeter to ten centimeters in size, but in the tropics an individual can reach 28 centimeters in length!

These insects live alone. The insect's legs end in poisonous spines. This is precisely why scolopendra, running across a person’s body, can cause irritation. The head includes a head plate with ocelli, a pair of antennae and venomous jaws. They are located under the head, but at the same time they are part of the body. The insect's forelimbs transform into fangs, with their help the scolopendra captures the victim. Each body segment has a pair of legs. The last legs are used during reproduction or as an anchor during capture. large production.

The color of scolopendra can be different, depending on the species, they are gray, brown, with a yellowish tint. Partially the insect may have a greenish, orange and blue tint. With age, an individual can change colors; pigmentation depends on its habitat.

Scolopendra is soft-bodied and dense in the back. The plate body is connected using a flexible membrane. The exoskeleton consists of chitin. This layer is inanimate and does not grow. To continue to grow, the centipede must undergo a molt.

Is Scolopendra an insect or not?

Scientifically: no, the scolopendra is not an insect. It belongs to the animal kingdom, a genus of labiopods from the order Scolopendra.

  • Kingdom: Animals;
  • Phylum: Arthropods;
  • Class: Labiopods;
  • Order: Scolopendra.
Scientific classification Scolopendra – Wikipedia

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 consider the most known species 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 in the Middle East. They are also found in the territory of Ukraine, the Caucasus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and southern Russia.

Natural environment The 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.


Scolopendra scutigera - the common flycatcher eats a fly on a person's hand

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 rare useful view arthropods 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 types of centipedes, but there are known cases where giant centipedes attacked 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 millipede 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 the territory 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– heart-shaped head and rusty color. The harm from contact with it is identical to most other centipedes.

Centipede lifestyle: nutrition, reproduction

Like many other centipedes, centipedes lead a real predatory image life. In the wild they feed on small invertebrates, and in some cases large individuals can eat mice, snakes, lizards, frogs and even bats!

Reproduction of centipedes begins in the second year of life. In males, a cocoon with seminal fluid, a spermatophore, is formed in the last ring of the body. At the moment of mating, the female draws fluid into her genitals, and after a few months lays eggs. One clutch can contain up to 120 larvae, not all of which survive. After a few months, the eggs hatch into larvae.

How long does Skoropendra live?

The lifespan of centipedes is about 7 years, which is quite a lot for a representative of arthropods, so they can be considered long-livers.

Centipede bite: what does it look like, is it dangerous for humans?

The bright color of centipedes indicates the poisonous nature of the insect. An insect bite can be compared to a wasp or bee sting. In terms of pain, one scolopendra bite can be equated to 20 bee stings. The poison does not lead to the death of a person, but the danger fatal outcome still exists in the option if a person is allergic to scolopendra venom.


In the photo - a scolopendra bite mark

There are many opinions in the literature about actual sizes centipede By known facts The largest scolopendra is in Brazil. Its body length is 33 cm. Many claim that the bite of a giant scolopendra is fatal, but this is only known from words.

In Russia, you can meet scolopendra only in the regions - the Caucasus, Rostov region, Krasnodar region, Crimea. There are small individuals there - up to 14 cm, mostly ringed scolopendra, which goes out hunting at night and is not particularly aggressive towards humans. You can meet it completely by accident, for example, in a tent, in a sleeping bag or while collecting firewood for a fire. In such cases, the scolopendra may begin to defend itself and bite you; its plans did not include a targeted attack on a person.

What to do if you are bitten by a scolopendra?

The sting of a scolopendra is comparable to the sting of 20 bees at the same time, it is quite painful. Scolopendra venom acts immediately, leaving the skin red and painful.

It is best to prevent the centipede from biting or touching human skin with its legs, but if this happens, follow these rules:

  • wash the area of ​​contact or damage with soap and water, disinfect with alcohol;
  • apply a sterile bandage for 12 hours, then change to a fresh one;
  • give the victim plenty of clean water to drink;
  • provide peace;
  • do not drink alcoholic beverages, they speed up the metabolism and the effect of poison;
  • seek help from a doctor.

Pregnant women, children, the elderly, allergy sufferers, and heart patients should urgently go to the hospital, otherwise the outcome can be tragic, even fatal.

Remember, scolopendra itself does not attack a person. If she notices you, she will rather try to run away with all her legs. But if she accidentally crawls under your clothes or into your tent, and you scare her, then in self-defense she will bite you.

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, there is the most full 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're starting special kind, consult a specialist regarding temperature and storage 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.

Nature is amazingly diverse. A huge number of bizarre, beautiful or terrible-looking animals and insects live on our planet. The ecosystem needs them to maintain a certain balance in nature. Centipedes also play their own role. They belong to the genus of labiopods, the order Scolopendra. Scolopendra is a carnivore, poisonous insect, which is not afraid of people, but prefers not to meet them of their own free will. They can have different sizes.

Habitats

A description and photo of scolopendra can be found on the website. It is advisable to do this for those people who are going on trips to warm or tropical countries. It is there that the centipede and the tropical scolopendra grow to gigantic size and pose a real danger to humans. Their body length reaches 26-30 cm. There are individuals up to 45-50 cm. Therefore, the question of where centipedes live is interesting for humans. They can be found on the islands of Jamaica, Trinidad, and in the north and west of South America.

Note!

These centipedes are usually distributed in the tropics and subtropics, as they are heat-loving. There are about 600 species of scolopendra and only a few varieties are found in Southern Europe, the Mediterranean regions, Transcaucasia, Central and South Asia, and the Far East.

Basically, real scolopendras are found in the upper layers of the soil, under stones, lying logs, in rock crevices and other secluded corners, where humidity is maintained during the hot season, and no one can disturb them. A natural question arises as to whether the poisonous centipede can be found in places with colder climates and, if so, where this predatory insect lives in Russia. There are different types insects, some of which live in the Russian Federation.

Types of predators


Typical representatives This order of centipedes is considered to be the ringed scolopendra, Californian scolopendra and Lucas scolopendra. But there are other varieties of these predators, which are their closest relatives.

  • Californian. It is green in color and is classified as a giant, as its body size reaches 20 centimeters. Lives in arid regions of Mexico and the USA. Whether scolopendra is dangerous for humans in normal conditions can be seen by observing the predator in the wild. In a calm environment, the centipede does not pose any threat, but in case of danger, running its numerous legs over a person’s skin causes inflammation at the site of contact. For all time, only one death of a seven-year-old child in the Philippines has been recorded from the bite of this poisonous centipede.
  • Ringed centipede. Found in Mediterranean countries, Southern Europe, North Africa, southern region Russia. It is widespread in Crimea. The body length is from 14 to 17 centimeters. Scolopendra is painted in a beautiful golden yellow color, but is also poisonous, like its relatives.
  • Vietnamese. This representative is distinguished by its highlight glowing liquid, smelling of phosphorus, which severely burns the skin and causes inflammation. The bite of the Scolopendra subspinipes insect produces a wound up to 1.5 cm in diameter and 5 mm in depth. The toxin is similar in action to viper venom. The wound bleeds for a long time, since a special substance is injected along with the poison that prevents blood clotting. There is an increase in temperature to 39-40 degrees and an increase in the bitten limb several times. The injured person must be immediately given an antiallergic drug and taken to the nearest hospital.
  • African scolopendra. She can make noise with her hind legs in the form of chirping and crackling noises to scare away enemies. The individuals themselves do not react to this sound in any way.
  • Blind, poisonous centipedes, Cryptops, live in the upper layers of the soil. They, like moles, practically never appear on the surface. These small yellow-brown scolopendras, 3–4 cm long, can be found in steppe regions and on garden plots even in Moscow latitudes. They do not pose a danger, since the weak jaw apparatus cannot bite through human skin. In the tropical region there are various species of these insects, which are colored different colors, ranging from green to purple shades.
  • Drupes (Lithobiomorpha) are small relatives of centipedes. They can accidentally get into the stomach with fruit or crawl into a sleeping person’s nose or ear, but this happens very rarely. Mainly found in cities near damp foundations.
  • Scutigera coleoptrata has 15 pairs long legs and long mustache. Scolopendra is a nocturnal insect, but this species can be seen during the day on the wall of a house. Preys on flies and other small insects. Tolerates dry air best of all species, although in the hottest daytime tries to hide in cover. Scolopendra of this species is able to be active at lower temperatures, which provides it with advantages in hunting over other insects. Today it is rarely seen in Crimea. The black scolopendra also belongs to the scutiger class.

Appearance

You can see what a scolopendra looks like in colorful photos. It consists of the head and long body, divided into 21 or 23 parts. Each segment has a pair of 2.5 cm light yellow legs with a pointed spine at the end. A poisonous gland is located in each leg.

The back pair of legs is different from all the others large size and backward direction. This helps the centipede to move well in the ground and stay in in the right position while hunting.


The insect is often called the centipede and centipede. But how correct this is from a scientific point of view, it is difficult for an ignorant person to understand this issue. So what is the difference between a centipede and a centipede? Based on the popular name, it has forty legs. But in reality, these insects have from 15 to 171 pairs of legs.

Note!

Centipedes always have an odd number of pairs of legs, so real life centipedes are not found. Predators run very fast, they can even jump, trying to hide from the enemy.

The centipede's head is a plate with eyes, two antennae and front legs, which have turned into jaws, consisting of 6 parts. The extreme segment is a sharp claw, curved inward and connected to the venom gland channel. Through a hole in the claw, a toxin is released, which paralyzes the victim. A completely natural question arises about why scolopendra is dangerous. After its bite in a person, the poison causes severe pain, swelling, numbness and inflammation appear at the bite point. The pain syndrome lasts from two hours to several days.

Reproduction and nutrition

The centipede is a predator and a good hunter. Therefore, it is clear what scolopendra eats. Like any predator, it eats small worms, beetle larvae, flies, and insects. Large individuals are capable of attacking small lizards, frogs, birds, mice, snakes and even bats.

Interesting!

Scolopendras eat for a long time, thoroughly digesting their food and interrupting their meals several times during the entire process of eating. They can feed on large prey for several days.


Scolopendra reproduction occurs in warm time year. This period lasts from late spring to early summer. The male covers the entrance to his home with a web and deposits a sac of sperm called a spermatophore on it. The female then crawls over this sac, capturing it to fertilize the eggs. In Crimea there are species that reproduce parthenogenetically without males.

The female exhibits maternal instinct by guarding the laid eggs for several weeks by wrapping her legs around them. At this time, it releases substances that protect against the development of mold. After the young offspring appear, the female leaves. Scolopendras are born white and soft, then they molt several times, darken and begin an independent life. Centipedes live 1-2 years, large relatives can live up to 7 years, usually in captivity.

In Russia there are centipedes that do not pose such a threat as tropical representatives. The domestic scolopendra, which lives in human homes, is practically harmless. It even brings benefits by eating flies, moths, cockroaches, bedbugs, and ants. It reaches a length of 2-6 cm. The scolopendra bites only for self-defense. Its jaws are very weak and cannot bite through human skin. But if this does happen, then the predator’s bite is as painful as that of a bee.

To prevent infection from the centipede's paws from getting into the wound, the bite site should be treated with ammonia, a solution of manganese, and an antiallergic drug should be taken.


Ways to fight

Scolopendra domestica, a photo of which can be seen on the website, thrives in humid, warm, dark rooms with enough food, suitable temperature. mechanically is very difficult, since the flat shape of the body and shell reliably protect from external influences.

To combat house scolopendra use modern broad-spectrum insecticides, folk remedies, such as: boric acid, cayenne hot pepper and the help of professionals is used. But the most important thing is to remove the reasons why centipedes appeared:

  • get rid of mold and moisture in the house;
  • seal all cracks in windows, doors and floors;
  • clean up the living space;
  • remove other insects.

Some exotic lovers want to have a home. Those wishing to purchase one pet need to know everything necessary information before you dare to do something like this:

  • how much does scolopendra cost?
  • under what conditions should it be kept?
  • what precautions to take;
  • what to feed.

Then the owner and the centipede will coexist comfortably and safely side by side.