CENTIPEDES are probably my least favourite creepy crawlies to photograph.
The fact that they have so many legs and a venomous bite, makes me shy away from them.
I am way more in my element while photographing venomous snakes. But I have had loads of queries about these creatures in recent weeks and thought I would see what I could find out on Google. Are centipedes as bad as I think they are?
What is the difference between a centipede and a millipede?
Millipede means ‘thousand legs’ however the maximum number of legs on any species around the world is 400. Millipedes have one pair of legs on each segment of their bodies, however they have far more body segments than the centipede. For the most part, these legs are very short and do not protrude much out the sides of the body as with centipedes. Millipedes feed mostly on decaying plant material, making them good to have in the compost heap, although the large black ones are also known to eat certain vegetables. Millipedes do not bite and have no venom. Their main self-defence is a noxious smelling chemical they excrete through their bodies, however this chemical is harmless to humans, usually only leaving one with a yellow stain on the skin.
(A commonly seen red and black millipede)
Centipede means ‘hundred legs’ however most centipedes familiar to us only have around 20 pairs of legs. Generally a centipede’s legs protrude slightly from their bodies, which makes them easily distinguishable from millipedes. Centipedes are voracious carnivores which prey on insects, snails and worms with the largest species in the world being able to overpower lizards, frogs and small rodents. Its prey is sensed by the antennae, then grabbed with the legs and stunned using the maxillipedes, which are a modified pincer-like pair of legs behind the head. The maxillipedes have sharp, piercing points with a hollow duct which leads to their venom gland. Some species have a venom that can cause severe pain and some swelling in humans, however human fatalities, due to centipede bites, are unheard of.
(A common seen species of centipede in the Durban area)
While one may not want to be bitten by a centipede, they definitely serve their purpose in the environment by keeping down the numbers of pesky insects, which makes them an important natural pest control agent, and great to have in the garden too.
Did you know you even get species of snake that feed on centipedes? The most common one found in the Durban area is the black-headed centipede eater. These snakes seem to be immune to the centipede’s venom.
If you would like to have your bugs, spiders or snakes identified, Whatsapp photos to Warren or if you need a snake safely relocated, call him on 072-211-0353.
