sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

This is a focused stacked image of my preserved male bark centipede showing its forcipules. Bark Centipedes are agile, fast-moving arthropods with one pair of legs per segment of their body. Some may believe that they bite, however, they actually pinch with their forcipules.

Bark Centipedes have a specially evolved pair of front legs (forcipules) that injects venom into their insect prey. They are capable of biting us humans, too, and may do so if disturbed, injured, or threatened. Picking them up is not recommended and catching them is not for the faint of heart because they are fast, and they can whip around and pinch you and it hurts like the dickens. Their pinch is not fatal although it can be quite painful and leave a red and irritated patch of skin around the wound. They are often found hiding under fallen limbs and logs where they hunt for their prey.

The males carry their sperm sack with their rear pair of legs. When they fertilize a female's eggs, she will protect them from anything that may want to prey on them. Young centipedes are smaller, paler-colored versions of adults. They will molt multiple times, shedding their exoskeleton as they grow wider and longer. They may live up to about five years. It is believed that centipedes have existed on Earth for 430 million years.

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Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Wow!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Longshadow. I search for specimens in the wooded areas by overturning deadfall. Most often I find nothing but worms, sow bugs, and ants. From time to time, I find something really exciting....like a snake that is pissed off that I disturbed it.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

No wonder it hurts when they bite you

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Curmudgeon. Arizona is home to three species of centipedes which are the house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata), the common desert centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha) and the giant desert centipede (Scolopendra heros).

The house centipede is quite small and very reclusive as it hunts for prey. They should be one of the welcomed critters for they help rid the home of insect pests and those that are not so friendly. The other two...well, those are a different story.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

When I was younger I used to burry gallon cans with their open tops level with the ground and cover them with a board raised an inch or so. Insects and small rodents looking for cover would run under the board, fall in the can and be unable to get out. On several occasions I caught Giant Desert Centipedes. The centipedes, on every occasion, killed everything else in the trap.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Fantastic image!!!

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Excellent work on the image and good info.

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Cool!

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Fabulous work, Gary!

SQUIRL033 Loc: Chehalis, WA

Impressive! I certainly wouldn't want to run into THAT in a dark alley!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Manglesphoto, thanks for dropping by.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate your viewing.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Bcheary.