The giant scolopendra stands out for its truly enormous size among other representatives of this family. Outwardly, this creature looks like a harmless centipede, but this creature, unlike its relative, poses a serious danger even to humans. During the process of evolution, these unique creatures not only increased significantly in size in order to eat large prey, but also learned to produce poison.
The giant scolopendra stands out for its truly enormous size among other representatives of this family.
A scolopendra bite can be fatal to a small child or person with a weakened immune system. An attack on a healthy adult will also not happen without consequences. The bite site swells greatly, acquires a characteristic red tint and is very painful for 2-3 hours. Currently, some arthropod lovers have such pets. It is worth noting that keeping this creature at home requires special precautions.
These creatures have an extremely limited habitat. This species of labiopods from the family of true centipedes is found exclusively in the north and west of South America, as well as on the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica. Related species live in Africa. Few modern people know what a scolopendra looks like. The body of an adult arthropod can include from 21 to 23 segments, colored coppery-red or brown. A pair of legs extends from each segment. The forelimbs of the giant centipede have an extremely curious structure; in the process of evolution they were transformed, and at the end of the limbs this African centipede has extremely tenacious claws, which allows it to move even along open rocks and hold prey.
Thus, the giant centipede is strong enough to hunt even large prey. The front pair of legs of this creature transformed and acquired the semblance of a jaw. At the ends of these limbs there are claws that connect to special glands that produce poison.
This substance is extremely dangerous. Scolopendra venom contains toxic substances such as:
- lecithin;
- serotonin;
- acetylcholine;
- histamine;
- hyaluronidase;
- thermolysin.
The poison perfectly retains its chemical structure in the cold, but quickly collapses when heated. Females are considered especially dangerous in this regard. The average body size of a giant scolopendra is about 26-30 cm, but larger specimens are also found.
There is currently no exact data regarding the growth rate of these creatures, but it is believed that the centipede reaches sexual maturity at 2-3 years of age. The African centipede is very different. Despite its huge size, it is not as dark, almost black, as its American relatives.
These creatures molt frequently. These creatures have a bad temper. Scolopendra can run very fast, which allows it to hide from danger, but if it has the opportunity to bite, it will never miss it. Few species of centipedes can compare with the giant scolopendra in life expectancy. Considering that in their natural environment these creatures have many enemies, often most of the broods do not even reach sexual maturity. In captivity, the lifespan of these arthropods is about 7-10 years.
10 largest insects in the world (video)
Gallery: giant scolopendra (25 photos)
Lifestyle of a giant scolopendra
Currently, not everything is known about the life of these amazing creatures in their natural habitat. Giant centipedes lead a rather secretive lifestyle. Throughout the daylight hours, they usually hide in the forest floor or rest in rock cracks or other secluded places. This allows such a large arthropod to avoid predators. Many species of large mammals and birds attack this centipede.
At night, the scolopendra goes hunting. The most common victims are crickets, beetles, caterpillars and other insects. However, when this creature reaches its maximum size, it can attack small frogs and lizards.
In addition, there are cases when scolopendras caught bats going to roost under the cave arch. The giant scolopendra catches its prey exclusively with its front pair of legs. This causes the venom to immediately enter the victim after the bite and quickly subdue it.
In the process of feeding, this centipede can use other limbs. The giant scolopendra eats quite slowly. If the prey is large, this centipede can take several breaks, and immediately after eating, it carefully cleans its front legs using its antennae. It is believed that the centipede eats slowly not because it has a small mouth, but this is not entirely true. Some researchers believe that the reason lies in the digestive characteristics of this creature.
The giant scolopendra refutes the idea that arthropods are bad parents. The female can mate several times a year.
To protect her offspring, she buries herself in the substrate, where she lays eggs. Next, the female is engaged in their protection. They also produce special substances that prevent eggs from drying out and mold forming on them. This significantly increases the survival rate of young animals.
The hatched individuals remain with the female in the shelter for several days, and then go to get food for themselves. From the first days of life, the young giant scolopendra is almost independent. As usual, the victims of these arthropod predators first become tiny insects, of which there are many in the litter.
Giant scolopendra (video)
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Taxonomy of the superclass Centipedes:
Class: Chilopoda Leach, 1814 =
Order/Order: Craterostigmomorpha =
Order/Order: Geophilomorpha = Geophiles
Order/Order: Lithobiomorpha = Drupes
Order/Order: Scolopendromorpha = Scolopendra
Order/Order: Scutigeromorpha Pocock, 1895 = Scutigers
Class: Diplopoda Blainville et Gervais, 1844 = Dipopods
Subclass: Chilognatha Latreille, 1802 =
Subclass: Penicillata =
Order/Order: Sphaerotherida =
Order/Order: Spirostreptida =
Class: Pauropoda Lubbock, 1866 = Pauropoda
Superorder/Superorder: Tetamerocerata =
Class: Symphyla Ryder, 1880 = Symphyla
Brief description of the superclass
Class Myriapoda includes about 10,000 species of exclusively terrestrial, sometimes quite large, arthropods. The worm-shaped, elongated body of centipedes is divided into two sections: a fused head and a jointed body, which often consists of a significant number of segments equipped with limbs.
All centipedes are combined into 4 subclasses: symphylos ( Symphyla), pauropods ( PauropodaDiplopoda), and labiopods ( Chilopoda).
Structure and physiology. The body of centipedes consists of segments sharply separated from each other, the number of which varies widely: from 18 in symphyla (subcl. Symphyla) and 14 in pauropods (connect. Pauropoda) up to 181 in some labiopods (podkl. Chilopoda).
The head of Myriapoda is clearly distinct from the body. It includes the akron and the 4 merged with it (conn. Symphyla And Chilopoda) or 3 (connect. Pauropoda And Diplopoda) first segments of the body. In the second case, the last head segment remains free and is called “cervical”. This structural feature of the head of some centipedes is rightly considered as a primitive feature.
The head bears antennae and oral limbs: the upper jaws are mandibles, or mandibles, and the lower jaws are maxillae, of which there can be one or two pairs, depending on the number of segments included in the head.
The antennae, or antennae, of centipedes correspond to the antennules (antennae I) of crayfish and belong to the acron. They are more or less long, thin, divided into segments and mostly unbranched. Apparently, they serve as organs not only of touch, but also of smell. The limbs corresponding to the antennae of the second crayfish and belonging to the first body segment in centipedes are reduced. But their segment, called pntercalar, exists. The other head limbs are transformed into mouthparts and are homologous to the corresponding mouthparts of crayfish. Their structure is different in different subclasses of centipedes. Representatives of subclasses Symphyla And Chilopoda the mouth in front is covered with a chitinized fold of integument - the upper lip; the latter in origin has nothing to do with the limbs. The mandibles, the limbs of the second segment, consist of two short chewing plates with a jagged inner edge. The first and second pairs of mandibles (limbs of segments III and IV, respectively) in most representatives consist of a base on which the articulated maxillary palp and unsegmented chewing lobes sit. Both the palp and lobes can be partially reduced.
Representatives of subclasses Pauropoda And Diplopoda behind the upper lip and a pair of powerful jagged mandibles there is only one unpaired plate - the gnathochilarium of a rather complex structure. The history of development shows that it is formed in the form of a paired rudiment and corresponds to the first pair of lower jaws of labiopods. The limbs of the cervical segment were reduced.
The head is followed by a mostly uniformly constructed body. However, strictly homonomic segmentation is expressed only in the most primitive forms. During the process of evolution, the nature of segmentation changes noticeably. In some millipedes (a number of labiopods), part of the body segments noticeably decreases in size. In this case, the reduced and normal segments alternate quite regularly. A different picture is observed among representatives of the subclass Diplopoda, in which there is a pairwise fusion of most of the segments (except for the first four, including the “cervical” segment). Each such double segment accordingly carries not one, but two pairs of limbs.
Such deviations from the original primitive homonomy do not lead, however, to the division of the body into tagmas. Only among the Kivsyaks the first trunk segments, bearing one pair of limbs and thus different from the others, together with the legless “neck” segment are sometimes designated as “thoracic”, and the double segments that follow them are “abdominal”.
The uniformity of the body segments of centipedes also determines the similarity in the structure of their limbs, which have the appearance of simple walking legs, consisting of one row of segments and ending in a claw. Examples of their functional and morphological differentiation are few. Thus, labiopods are characterized by the transformation of the legs of the first trunk segment into jaws, which play a major role in capturing and killing prey. This pair of legs greatly increases in size and has an extremely thickened main segment, while the terminal segment is strongly pointed and bent in the form of a hook. At the base of the limb lies a poisonous gland, the duct of which opens at the end of the hook. The poison released has a strong effect on arthropods and vertebrates. Finger bite by a large scolopendra ( Scolopendra) causes temporary swelling of the entire arm. Some pairs of legs that take part in copulation change slightly in structure and are called gonopodium.
The body is covered with a chitinous, sometimes lime-impregnated cuticle secreted by a single-layer hypodermal epithelium. The latter is quite rich in unicellular and multicellular skin glands, among which the protective glands of the noose are especially interesting. They are placed on the dorsal side of part of the body segments and open outward with defensive openings from which secretions are squirted out. In different species of the subclass Diplopoda, the secretion varies unusually in appearance and chemical properties. Yes, it's a secret Spirobolus It is corrosive and turns human skin dark. Polyzonium rosalbum secretes a milky liquid that has the smell and burning taste of camphor. Tropical Fontarla contains free hydrocyanic acid in the glands and smells of bitter almonds.
Digestive system the centipede has the appearance of a straight tube; Only in the region of the hindgut does the digestive canal form a loop-like bend.
The mouth lies on the ventral side of the head between the oral limbs and leads into the foregut, often called the esophagus. The salivary glands are associated with the initial part of the digestive system. Kivsyaks have three pairs of glands that open as independent ducts into the oral cavity and at the base of the gnathohilarium. Due to their formation from the mesoderm, these glands are considered modified coelomoducts. Labiopods have 3-5 pairs of salivary glands with independent ducts that open into the oral cavity or on the sides of the mouth. They appear to be of purely ectodermal origin, i.e., they represent modified skin glands. The salivary glands, opening on the second pair of jaws, are equated to the spinning glands of insect larvae, the openings of which are located on the same pair of oral limbs.
The midgut serves as the site of digestion and absorption of food. The hindgut is short.
Representatives of the subclass Diplopoda they are herbivorous and feed mainly on rotting leaves, plant debris, wood dust, etc. Labiopods are predators that feed on insects.
Excretory system. At the border between the midgut and hindgut, 1 or 2 pairs flow into the intestine (the latter in Chilopoda) long tubes blindly closed at the free end - Malpighian vessels. Nodules of uric acid accumulate in the epithelium of blood vessels and their lumen; the latter in centipedes, as well as in insects, is the main excretory product. In addition to the Malpighian vessels, other formations also play an excretory role, primarily lymphatic glands in the form of irregular cellular strands located either along the Malpighian vessels, or along the abdominal blood vessel, or along the abdominal nerve cord. They serve to capture and accumulate solid waste products and phagocytize solid particles injected into the body cavity (for example, carcass powder or carmine). In addition, the fat body takes part in the secretion. The body cavity - the mixocoel - of centipedes is in many places filled with irregular cords and accumulations of cells, and these accumulations are limited by a thin membrane of its own. The collection of such accumulations is called the fat body. Numerous drops of fat, as well as nodules of uric acid, are observed in its cells. The fat body serves not only to accumulate reserve nutritional material, but also to excrete (uric acid).
Nervous system consists of the brain, peripharyngeal connectives and ventral nerve cord. The brain has a rather complex histological structure, indicating that the head of centipedes is formed from segments that exceed the number of pairs of cephalic appendages. In the brain, in addition to a pair of ganglia that send nerves to the antennae, there are also paired clusters of nerve cells corresponding to the intercalary segment.
The abdominal chain consists of the subpharyngeal ganglion located in the head, which innervates all the oral limbs, and of a long row of trunk ganglia, well separated and sitting on a common paired longitudinal nerve trunk. Each segment usually has one paired ganglion. U Diplopoda such a device is observed only in four anterior segments, while the others contain two ganglia located one after the other, which proves the complex composition of these segments.
Organs of touch and smell with there are antennae lined with sensitive hairs, sensitive cones, etc. In addition, on the sides of the head, between the bases of the antennae and the eyes, there are two temesvar sensory organs (apparently, chemoreceptors). These are either horseshoe-shaped pits, at the bottom of which there are ridges of sensitive cells, or clusters of sensitive cells located under the integument of the head in the depths of long narrow canals. The Temeswar organs are innervated from the brain. The vast majority of centipedes are equipped with eyes; there may be 2, 4 or many of them. The eyes sit on the sides of the head and have the character of single, simply arranged ocelli. Only in flycatchers ( Scutigera) on the head are two large clusters of ocelli, so close together that they touch each other and resemble the complex faceted eyes of insects. Centipedes' visual abilities are poor. Millipedes prefer shaded areas.
Respiratory system represented by tracheas - thin air-bearing tubes of ectodermal origin, arising as deep invaginations of the integument. The walls of the trachea are lined with a continuation of the outer cuticle, which forms a spiral thickening along the entire length of the tracheal tube, preventing the trachea from collapsing. The tracheae begin with paired spiracles, or stigmas, lying on the ventral side of the body segments. The initial form of the tracheal system should be considered one in which each body segment carries a pair of stigmas, and each stigma leads to a separate bundle of thin tracheal tubes. The closest subclass to this scheme is Diplopoda, in whose representatives almost all body segments are equipped with paired bundles of unbranched tracheas independent of each other. Due to the double nature of the trunk segments, the latter bear not 1, but 2 pairs of spiracles. In most species of the subclass Chilopoda stigmas are located on the body through a segment, and in some forms (for example, Scutigera) the animal has only 7 pairs of stigmata, but the tracheal network itself is much more complexly developed in labiopods. The tracheas of some of them are strongly branched, and communications in the form of longitudinal and transverse bridges are established between the tracheal bundles of adjacent segments and the same segment (right and left). The terminal branches of the trachea of centipedes entwine all the internal organs. The change of air in the trachea occurs due to changes in body volume during contraction and relaxation of muscles.
Circulatory system quite well developed, in addition to the heart there is a system of peripheral blood vessels. The heart, in the form of a delicate transparent tube, stretches above the intestine along the entire body and closes blindly at the back or continues into two short vessels that are lost in the muscles. The heart is divided into chambers according to segments: each chamber has two ostia. At the subclass Diplopoda, where the segments are double, with two pairs of awns per segment. The heart continues into the cephalic aorta, which goes to the brain. In labiopods, the circulatory system is complex: the aorta gives off an arterial ring on its way to the brain, which goes around the intestine and flows into the abdominal longitudinal vessel, which lies above the abdominal nerve cord. In addition, 2 lateral arteries depart from each chamber of the heart. The heart is suspended from the walls of the body using special pterygoid muscles. The vessels extending from the heart branch more or less richly, but then break off, and the hemolymph enters the lacunae of the myxocoel, i.e., into the spaces between the organs. From the lacunae it enters the pericardial region of the body cavity and from there again to the heart. The heart drives hemolymph from the posterior end to the anterior; in the abdominal vessel it moves in the opposite direction.
Reproductive system. All millipedes are dioecious. The gonads only in rare cases retain (some pauropods) their originally paired character and usually merge into an unpaired formation of various types. So, the testis, for example, looks like a massive formation with blades along the edge or a long thin tube, or consists of 11-12 pairs of small lobules connected by a common genital duct. In the initial part, the oviduct and vas deferens are unpaired ducts. Moving forward, they bifurcate and open outward on the ventral side of the second (not counting the cervical) trunk segment. The genital opening in symphyla and pauropods is located on the same segment.
For representatives of the subclass Chilopoda The reproductive duct is unpaired in the initial part and can form two branches, which then necessarily merge. The genital opening is located on the penultimate segment of the body.
A number of additional formations are associated with the reproductive system of millipedes. Thus, long sac-like seminal vesicles often flow into the vas deferens. The female reproductive system may be equipped with spermatic receptacles. Special accessory glands often develop.
The methods of fertilization of centipedes are varied. In a simpler case, the male hangs a drop of seminal fluid or a real spermatophore on the web he has allocated, which are later picked up by the female. Sometimes copulation occurs, and in this case the seminal fluid is introduced into the female’s genital opening by the male’s limbs (most often specialized limbs, gonopodiums, are used for this purpose).
Development. The eggs of centipedes are large and rich in yolk, accordingly they undergo partial, superficial crushing. Postembryonic development Myriapoda can occur in two slightly different types,
The first type, or true direct development, is found in some representatives of the subclass Chilopoda (Geophilus, Scolopendra): a young animal hatches from an egg, possessing a full number of body segments and limbs, i.e., it is quite similar to the mother’s body. The second type, or development with anamorphosis, is found in other labiopods and bipeds. In this case, the animal hatches with an incomplete number of body segments, which are replenished during a series of molts. With each moult, segments following it in order are added to the existing segments behind the last formed segment. Their formation occurs due to the growth zone, which lies directly in front of the telson (i.e., in the same place as in crayfish larvae). Juveniles of anamorphic species sub. Chilopoda hatches with 12 pairs of trunk limbs, juveniles sub. Diplopoda- with only 3 front pairs of walking legs, followed by several legless segments. This six-legged stage resembles the larvae of many insects when they still lack wing rudiments.
Ecology. Centipedes are predominantly nocturnal, animals that avoid daylight, hiding under bark, stones, etc. Millipedes are very clumsy and slow, while labiopods, on the contrary, are dexterous and distinguished by their speed of movement.
Many centipedes exhibit care for their offspring. They either lay their eggs in special nests made of earth or other material, or they curl up in a spiral around a laid pile of eggs and remain in this position for several weeks, without eating, until the young hatch.
In the north, the diversity of millipedes is small. In the south - in the Crimea, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, the number of species is increasing. The largest scolopendras and nods - up to 28 cm long and a finger thick - are found only under the tropics. The smallest centipedes are only 1-3 mm in length. All centipedes, except podkl. Chilopoda, are completely harmless. Bites from large labiopods, e.g. Scolopendra, may be painful.
Classification. Centipedes are divided into 4 subclasses (sometimes they are given the meaning of independent classes): symphyla ( Symphyla), pauropods ( Pauropoda), bipeds, or nods ( Diplopoda), and labiopods ( Chilopoda).
Literature: A. Dogel. Zoology of invertebrates. Edition 7, revised and expanded. Moscow "Higher School", 1981
(two-legged (diplopods), labiopods, pauropods, symphylos). Today, science knows more than 13,000 modern species of centipedes. As their name suggests, centipedes are known for their many pairs of legs. The number of legs varies from species to species. Some species have less than a dozen legs, while others have more than a hundred. Illacme plenipes is a species from central California that has 750 legs and currently holds the record for the most legs of any millipede species.
Description
The body of centipedes is divided into two main sections: the trunk and the head. The head of centipedes is rounded and flat at the bottom (the exception is labiopods). On the head of centipedes there is a pair of antennae (antennae) and two pairs of jaws (upper jaws - mandibles and lower jaws - maxillae). The body is cylindrical in shape and consists of many segments, each segment having at least one pair of appendages (legs). Typically they have around 25-100 segments. Each thoracic segment has one pair of legs, while the abdominal segment has two pairs. Centipedes have limited vision (some species have no eyes at all). Species that have eyes can only distinguish between light and dark, and do not have true vision of the world around them.
Habitat and food
Millipedes inhabit a variety of habitats, but are most common in forests. They are also found in deserts, savannas and grasslands. Most centipedes are detritivores (animals that feed on decaying organic matter). The exception is labiopods, which are nocturnal predators and feed on a variety of animals, including amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds and various invertebrates. Two other lesser-known classes of centipedes, pauropods and symphylans, are small organisms (some species are microscopic) that live in the soil.
The first centipedes
The first fossil evidence of centipedes dates back to the end of the Silurian period, about 420 million years ago. Molecular evidence shows that they appeared much earlier, perhaps as early as the Cambrian period, more than 500 million years ago. Fossils from the Cambrian show some common features of early millipedes, indicating that their evolution began as early as that time.
Main characteristics
Key characteristics of centipedes include:
- many pairs of legs;
- two main parts of the body (head and torso);
- one pair of antennae (antennae) on the head;
- simple eyes;
- mandibles and maxillae;
- respiratory exchange occurs through the tracheal system.
Classification
Centipedes are divided into the following four classes:
- Labiopods (Chilopoda);
- Dipopods (Diplopoda);
- Pauropods (Pauropoda);
- Symphiles (Symphyla).
Scolopendras are not the most pleasant creatures. And no one is safe from meeting them. Many species of these arthropods are poisonous, and some have adapted to live very close to us - in apartments.
Forcipules
Scientists have counted 8,000 species of different scolopendras living in different parts of the planet. These centipedes are the only arthropods in which the legs of the first segment are not intended for walking. We are talking about special appendages, the so-called forcipules, which have poisonous claws.
That is why their appearance causes deserved fear in people. Writers and screenwriters turn to the image of centipedes to make their works more creepy. For example, the American writer William Seward Burroughs, in his novels “Cities of the Red Night”, “The Space of the Dead Roads” and “The Western Lands”, called the centipede an absolute evil. The movie "King Kong" (2005) shows how huge centipedes attacked travelers.
Poisonous creature
Depending on the species and age, a scolopendra bite can have a variety of consequences for a person, including death. Moreover, females are more poisonous than males.
Fortunately, deadly centipedes are not found in Russia. But scolopendras, which live in the Crimea, in particular on Tarkhankut, can indeed sting very painfully.
“A centipede about thirteen centimeters crawled into my sneaker at Cape Sarych,” said local resident Alexander. - I tore off my shoes in an instant from the pain without untying the laces. A bee bite compared to a scolopendra is about the same as a mosquito bite compared to a wasp. The temperature remained high for two days.”
Is it a centipede?
How many legs does the centipede, sometimes called the centipede, actually have? Judging by the name, which has taken root among the common people, forty. Meanwhile, depending on the species, these arthropods can have from 15 to 171 body segments and the same number of pairs of legs. However, in any case, they always have an odd number of pairs of legs, so in reality centipedes do not occur in nature.
Predators
By nature, all centipedes are predators. Small ones - feed on other invertebrates, mollusks and annelids. Larger species living in the tropics are capable of eating a frog and even small birds. Having attacked the victim, centipedes wrap themselves around the prey and wait for the poison to begin to act. Only after this do they start eating.
Even those centipedes that live in our homes - Scutigera coleoptrata - are also predators, and they feed on flies, cockroaches, spiders, bedbugs and other domestic insects. They are often called common flycatchers. These are, as a rule, four-centimeter, 15-segmented centipedes that run very quickly from people. They can only be removed with sticky traps or by eliminating moisture in the house.
Long-lived arthropods
Compared to most other arthropods, centipedes are long-lived. There are many species that live for two to three years. This is also surprising because centipedes grow throughout their lives, unlike other insects in which growth stops with puberty.
Another unique ability of these creatures is the regeneration of lost legs, for example, after an attack by a bird. True, new pairs grow after molting. In this case, the regenerated legs are shorter than the old legs.
Loving mothers
Typically, arthropod insects, with rare exceptions, are irresponsible parents. It is believed that maternal love is inherent in more developed animals.
However, scientists were surprised to discover that scolopendras have a maternal instinct. For example, the soil scolopendra Geophilomorpha and the tropical centipede species Scolopendromorpha guard the egg mass until the larvae emerge. However, here too scolopendras have amazing properties that are practically not found in the rest of the animal world. Some of them reproduce without the participation of a male - that is, parthenogenetically. These are the centipedes that live in Crimea.
Scolopendra giants
On the islands of Jamaica and Trinidad, as well as in some places in South America, there live giant centipedes, which can have a length of 26 cm. However, a thirty-centimeter centipede was found in Australia. It is known about these insects that they eat for a very long time so as not to harm themselves by overeating and often take breaks in the process of devouring the victim. After eating, these centipedes carefully clean their jaws with their antennae.
The centipede insect, also known as the flytrap, looks unpleasant and even frightening, especially when it reaches full maturity with a body of 60 mm in length. How dangerous is its appearance in the house, is it worth fighting against it, and why does the insect enjoy immense respect from humans in many countries around the world? More on this below.
Visual differences of a centipede
To say that the flycatcher is an insect is not entirely correct. In fact, it belongs to the group of arthropods called tracheae. Its body consists of 15 segments, due to which it is held in one position. The legs become noticeably longer as they approach the rear part. The last pair of legs may be longer than the body itself. The special structure of the body allows the insect to move at the desired pace without touching its own legs.
Often long pairs of legs are confused with whiskers, causing confusion regarding the position of the head and tail. As a result of many years of living in an apartment, the common domestic scolopendra has been somewhat modified - the front pair of its legs has transformed into a jaw. With its help, the insect gets to food in hard-to-reach places.
On the sides of the centipede's head there are eyes and so-called antennae-catchers consisting of several hundred segments. By analogy with locators, they monitor changes in the environment, help explore space, react to temperature changes, and become a guide in finding comfortable and safe places.
Every common flycatcher in nature has a serious enemy - a snake.
Habits, instincts and life of the flycatcher: the most interesting
You should know that the centipede (the photo will not allow you to make a mistake) is an insect that is equally active at any time of the day. Every hour, every minute she looks for prey. As soon as the victim is identified, the flycatcher injects a portion of a toxic substance into it to neutralize it and only after that it eats it without haste. The insect is very fast, capable of covering up to 40 centimeters in one second.
On average, a female flyeater lays up to 6 dozen eggs at a time. All of them are protected with a sticky substance and placed in a hole or deep crack carefully dug by mom. The insect carefully wraps its body around the clutch of eggs and tries to close it from the outside world with its paws. In this way, the scolopendra “nurses” the eggs for many weeks, without leaving the nest even a centimeter, and does not eat or drink anything.
The common centipede is an insect with a mission. Being a representative of the most ancient inhabitants of the planet, it deserves special attention. At first glance, scary and unpleasant insects actually provide invaluable assistance to humans by eating a lot of pests, for example:
- cockroaches;
- fleas;
- ants;
- bedbugs, etc.
There are up to 8,000 species of this insect in the world, but only 3,000 of them have been officially documented, such as the Chinese centipede, which reaches a quarter of a meter in length with a body of 23 sections, or the bright black African centipede with a body up to 28 cm long!
Almost none of the discovered species of centipedes are dangerous to humans. Yes, arthropods can bite, but all that a centipede bite can do is cause allergies, and then only in people who are prone to this kind of reaction with a slight increase in temperature and swelling at the site of the bite.
In the insect world, the centipede is one of the dominant predators with claws on the first segment. She is a carnivore, so she prefers clean meat from small insects. Large species can cope not only with invertebrates, but also with small reptiles, as well as worms, frogs, spiders and even birds.
How do centipedes get into an apartment and why?
Only when settling in an apartment does the insect try to be extremely careful. In the first days after settling, they try not to show themselves at all, hunting after dark. Millipedes' favorite places to hunt are bathrooms and toilets. It is there, in conditions of high humidity and lack of light, that arthropods choose their victims and camouflage themselves when needed without any problems.
You should not think that flycatchers will fill the entire apartment as they reproduce. The insect shows no interest in other rooms and ignores food supplies in the kitchen. The common scutigera (flycatcher) will not damage wallpaper, clothes in the wardrobe, indoor plants or furniture. In general, this creature does not pose a danger, but a certain discomfort from its proximity cannot be avoided, this is a fact.
What are the reasons for the appearance of insects in the house? There are several factors that have a beneficial effect on creating insect-attracting conditions in the home. These include:
- increased humidity levels;
- dampness in the house;
- faulty water pipes;
- abundance of small insects;
- muffled light.
Favorite places for centipedes, in addition to the toilet and bathroom, are basements and subfloors. The insect moves around the apartment along cracks and pipelines, choosing the most suitable places to live. One of the main problems is the contamination of underground and basement spaces. That is why, with the first signs of centipedes appearing in the house, you need to check the condition of the basement. Fighting insects without correcting the situation in their places of residence will not yield results.
Methods to combat centipedes
Understanding what a scolopendra looks like, what habits it has, where it hides and what it eats, you can develop a plan to get it out of the house. To get rid of insects in an apartment forever, you need to conduct a thorough analysis of the premises, solving problems with dampness and moisture in individual areas.
Considering that centipedes feed on small insects, you need to try to make sure that there are no insects in the house at all. No food - no arthropod predators.
A wooden floor with cracks in a room attracts insects, opening up a lot of opportunities for home improvement and reproduction. A simple coating of mastic or varnish will help solve the problem - insects cannot stand the smell of chemicals.
Leaking pipes in the bathroom or toilet must be repaired or replaced. Otherwise, none of the methods of combating flycatchers will work. Comfortable indoor conditions will attract more and more individuals there.
It is worth paying attention to the pallets under house flowers. Excess stagnant water will also attract insects.
If arthropods in the house feel more than at ease despite all preventive measures, continue to reproduce and are increasingly seen even during the day, it is worth trying to use repellents or insecticidal sprays for crawling creatures. It doesn’t matter whether the flytrap is an insect or not, drugs of this kind most often have a wide spectrum of action.
In conclusion, we note that killing living beings, even if they are not the most pleasant in appearance, is inhumane. Therefore, in order to prevent an uncomfortable neighborhood at home, you need to try to create conditions unfavorable for insects. Scolopendra, also known as the flytrap, is of little danger to humans; its appearance in an apartment is the result of a violation of sanitary standards, which means that responsibility for solving the problem also lies solely with the owners of the apartment.
