Holy freaking bug!

[BarelyBreathing]

I didn't even know they had these around here. My husband found this SEVEN INCH tiger centipede dead in our pond near Denver, Colorado.

[Rogue628]

Now I'm not going to be able to sleep tonight lol I knew I shouldn't have clicked on the thread! lol

I thought it was going to be something a little less creepy and a lot more cooler, maybe like a spider lol

[BarelyBreathing]

Centipedes are my downfall. It was dead, and I still screamed loudly when hubby touched it.

[Rogue628]

I used to say, "if it has more than four legs I don't want anything to do with it". Since I've had my tarantula, I've been a bit more lax in that. But centipedes and millipedes still creep me out. I'm trying to be more 'bug' friendly, but I don't think I could be anywhere near calm even with a dead one! lol

[Kaetlinv]

Centipedes....definitely dangerous beauties. With a powerful bite. Ouch.Hope there arent too many more around you.

[AjaMichelle]

That's crazy!!!

[BarelyBreathing]

Millipedes are fine in my book. I even enjoy them. Centipedes, no. Not for me.

[Rogue628]

I had to go research the basic differences between them. I'm one of those people that just put them in the same class of creepy....they both have many legs and just look creepy! lol

Still not sure if I can tell them apart on site, mainly because I doubt I'd hang around long enough to get a good enough look! lol However, this thread has given me a bit of new knowledge about the difference between them. I still don't want near either though

[Kaetlinv]

Now i'm not an expert or an entomologist, but I do know my way around some bugs. All this information may not be correct, but these are a few clear distinctions between millipedes and centipedes.

Millipedes have more legs, generally held in 'pairs' when they walk, generally have 'round top' bodies (think round like a straw), and will ball up when threatened (I believe) or secrete some nasty smelling stuff to try and scare you off. I'm pretty sure that most millipedes are very dark in color, though there are some bright ones and some with striking color patterns. They also dont move very fast in comparison to centipedes (as i've come to experience).

Centipedes have LARGE antennae at their head (and also what look like antennae at their other end, view the pic of that one up there to see what I mean, lol), large biting pincers which are usually tucked by their head, and the legs increase in length the farther down the body they are (to avoid hitting the leg in front of it), centipedes are pretty bright in coloration as well.

In short, if it's got a round body and around a million tiny little legs that all look the same, it's probably a millipede (especially if it balls up!).

If it's got two sets of antennae, one at each end, and thick long legs, it's probably a centipede.


I had my first encounter with centipedes this past summer - was moving wood around and stacking it with my soon-to-be step-dad and kept finding a bunch of 3 inch long (albeit they were skinny and ran away) baby centipedes. Scared the bajeebas out of me because I know centipedes can deliver a nasty bite! there were also a bunch of spider egg nests and spiders and at one point I gave up and told Aaron I was sorry, I couldn't go any more, too many nasties. lol

[DragonsEye]

Originally Posted by BarelyBreathing

Centipedes are my downfall. It was dead, and I still screamed loudly when hubby touched it.

Nice pede. I need to get another one someday ... my last one "kicked the bucket".

Originally Posted by Kaetlinv

Millipedes have more legs, generally held in 'pairs' when they walk,

Millies have two pairs of legs per body segment ... centipedes have just one pair per segment.

Originally Posted by Kaetlinv

generally have 'round top' bodies (think round like a straw), and will ball (or coil) up when threatened (I believe)

They also dont move very fast

Spot on.

Originally Posted by Kaetlinv

or secrete some nasty smelling stuff to try and scare you off.

Some species actually take chemical warfare a bit further and emit cyanide gas or cyanide laced liquids (or other toxic compounds) to defend themselves. Most just go the bad taste route. Interestingly, those species which can emit cyanide compounds (liquid or gaseous) are themselves immune to those same toxins when exposed to them.

In addition, while many species will eat live vegetation, most are either partially or exclusively detriovores (feed on dead/decaying organic matter).

Originally Posted by Kaetlinv

large biting pincers which are usually tucked by their head, and the legs increase in length the farther down the body they are (to avoid hitting the leg in front of it),

Legs along the midsections of the body tend to be the same length. It is amongst the anterior and posterior segments where you'll find the differences in leg length.

Originally Posted by Kaetlinv

centipedes are pretty bright in coloration as well.

Many species are dark or drab in coloration, though there are indeed some brightly colored ones.

Originally Posted by Kaetlinv

Centipedes have LARGE antennae at their head (and also what look like antennae at their other end, view the pic of that one up there to see what I mean, lol),
If it's got two sets of antennae, one at each end, and thick long legs, it's probably a centipede.

Only one pair of antennae and that at the head end. There are two long antenna-like legs at the tail end of the body. It is thought to be a means of confusing a would be predator as to where the head is as well as which way a still centipede will move.

Centipedes are all predators though most will also scavenge on dead animals.

Additionally, centipedes tend to be fast movers. (Not surprising since, unlike millies, their food items are not likely to just sit there and allow themselves to be eaten. )

All centipedes have venom. Despite this, most of the small species commonly found in North America will not bite even when handled (such as the long legged centipede often found in buildings). If these smaller species do bite, results will typically be on par with the pain of a bee/wasp sting. The larger species commonly found in the tropics and subtropical regions can deliver quite a painful bite if threatened with the pain lasting a week or more with some species.

[rmfsnakes32]

Eww I hate those things with a passion creeps me out

[Gatorhunter1231]

I had a Texas red headed centipede (which are not only in Texas). I named him squishy and had him for about 6months (let go) He was pretty cool with an orange head, orange legs and blue body. Ate spiders, pinkie mice and crickets.

Millipedes are like super sized rollie pollies (pill bugs) lol.

[Will0W783]

DAAAAANNNNG! That is a big ol' bug! :-o

[Rogue628]

I always thought they were pretty much the same thing, but not different species. So what little distinctions I found about them was pretty cool to learn.

However, if I see a long creepy crawly with lotsa legs, you can bet I'll be running the other way without thinking to see if I can figure out if it's one or the other lol

[jaleely]

yup i am with you on the downfall thing. it's allllll those legs. gives me the creeps just thinking about how big this thing was lol BLAH