Crimean scolopendra: why is it dangerous, and how to prevent it from entering your home? Crimean centipede bite

Where do Black Sea centipedes live?

Ringed centipedes, which are called Crimean or Black Sea, can be found not only on the Crimean peninsula. The concept “Black Sea scolopendra” does not describe its entire habitat. It is a common species found throughout southern Europe. This centipede lives in fairly large numbers in Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey, and Bulgaria. Lives in North African countries: Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt. These arthropods are found in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Scolopendra in Russia lives not only in Crimea. There are areas in Taman, Rostov region, Krasnodar region, Volgograd, Stavropol regions, and Dagestan.

Important! The Crimean ringed scolopendra settles mainly along the coasts, preferring mountainous, forested areas. Most often, she avoids communication with humans, but in search of a secluded place she can sneak into a human home. This animal can settle not only in a private house, but also get into an apartment in an apartment building. Do not forget that the flat centipede easily penetrates even narrow cracks. During the day she hides, and at night she goes hunting and explores the surrounding area.

In Crimea, centipedes live everywhere. But not in every region their populations are homogeneous. On the crowded beaches of the South Coast, the chance of meeting her is small. Many of them are found in the mountains in the central part and in the east of the peninsula. There are also relatively few of them in the west of Crimea. Millipedes do not settle in dry steppes; they need moisture.

Habitat area in Crimea

Scolopendra lives throughout Southern Europe and on the Mediterranean shores of African states. She chooses places where the humidity is high enough, there is shade, a lot of secluded corners and food.

In Crimea, on the South Coast, scolopendras are rarely found; on the West Bank they are almost never found, but on the East Bank they are a common species. But what has been said does not mean that vacationers on the ZBK, for example in Yevpatoria, can be completely calm. Scolopendras love humidity, they require secluded areas, the dry steppe does not suit them, and they are not found on beaches. But where there is dampness, stones, scorched leaves, rotten wood, they will also be there.

For this reason, centipedes are often found in the mountains, but on slopes facing the sea and near rivers. They are nocturnal, and during the day they hide under boulders, tree trunks, in fallen leaves and various crevices. When turning out pebbles from the ground or rolling over fallen trunks in Crimea, you should be careful - several disgruntled individuals may be found under them at once.

Crimean scolopendras can also be found in private houses if they are humid enough. They are traditional guests in garages, basements and cellars. Crimeans are not surprised when they find a dangerous insect in an apartment on the top floor of a modern high-rise building.

What does scolopendra look like?

Scolopendra cingulata looks very impressive. This is a fairly large animal, growing throughout its life and reaching 10–15 cm. Nature itself has endowed it with an appearance that warns how dangerous this ringed centipede is. From a zoological point of view, defining it as an insect is incorrect. Scolopendra is classified as a phylum arthropod, a chilopod, that is, a class of labiopods.

It is called ringed because of the structure of its body. It is covered with a very durable chitinous shell, divided into segments. Each segment covers the previous one, like tiles covering a roof. The chitinous shell can range from a light sand color in juveniles to olive or dark chocolate in adults. Numerous legs are colored yellow or orange. Each segment has a pair of strong short legs. There are usually about 21–23 pairs. The first two legs form a kind of oral apparatus - jaws. It is with them that the poisonous scolopendra bites, and with them it pushes food into the mouth. The last two legs are longer than the others. When moving, they serve, depending on the situation, as rudders or anchors that help the centipede maneuver. Sensitive antennae on its head help it to navigate perfectly in space.

What do centipedes look like?

The body length of centipedes varies from two millimeters to forty centimeters. It is important to understand here that the warmer the climate, the larger the body size of the centipede. So, for example, in Crimea, you can find a centipede whose body size will reach four centimeters, but in places with a less hot climate, such sizes may not be found.

The body of centipedes itself is divided into segments. The head also consists of four or five segments.

A distinctive feature of centipedes is the number of legs. The maximum number can be 750. It is interesting to note that these pests never have a pair of legs. This is where centipedes got their name.

Their colors are different. It is worth noting that the younger the individual, the lighter its color.

Hunting habits

This predatory arthropod hunts at night. Its prey includes a variety of insects (cockroaches, grasshoppers, etc.) and other arthropods (spiders, etc.). The poisonous scolopendra can kill an animal even larger than itself - a sand lizard. A small snake can also become its prey. During the day, scolopendra hides in dark, secluded places. Hides under stones, roots of trees and bushes, under leaves or in thick grass. She prefers moist, dark places.

Scolopendras rarely go to the beaches, but even those who settled in a tent on the shore should not neglect caution. In search of convenient shelters that are sufficiently damp and dark, centipedes climb into houses. They are usually attracted to basements, garages, closets, bathrooms, and cellars. These nimble animals can also reach apartments located on the upper floors of high-rise buildings.

Important! To protect yourself from a poisonous centipede attack, you need to keep your doors closed. It is especially important to do this at night and in the evenings, during the period when centipedes are active. Cover windows and ventilation openings with fine mesh. In the regions where they live, it is recommended to cover the beds of small children with a breathable canopy.

Lifestyle of the Crimean centipede

This animal prefers to spend most of its time in damp and dark places - lying under stones, ruins of trees, in crevices. During the daytime it is passive, hiding from prying eyes, but at sunset it goes out hunting.

The legs of the centipede are perfectly adapted for hunting. When she sees the prey, she catches up with it and grabs it with her tenacious front legs. After that, he plunges his jaws, containing a toxic substance, into her body.

The Crimean centipede is a very fast runner. Before you kill her, try to catch up first! But even having overtaken a centipede, crushing it is not so easy. The body is very flat, so even hitting with a stone will not help on soft ground.

In addition to all other “advantages”, the Crimean centipede is an excellent sprinter.

Scolopendra is an inhabitant of warm climate zones; this animal cannot tolerate temperatures below zero degrees.

Nutrition

With the onset of dusk, the scolopendra in the Crimea goes hunting. What does a centipede eat? The diet is not so varied. Hunts various insects, even animals. Often young lizards become victims of attacks.

Crimean scolopendra's sense of smell, fast legs and venom help it hunt. The centipede waits motionless for its victim in a shelter. As soon as it appears on the horizon, the predator instantly rushes to attack, grabs it with its forelimbs, and inflicts bites one after another. Then he jumps to the side and watches what is happening.

Feeding and reproduction of the pest The poison paralyzes the victim and also liquefies the internal organs. After a few seconds, the centipede begins to eat, and the half-dead victim is unable to resist. The diet includes spiders, beetles, cockroaches, flies, crickets, and grasshoppers.

How dangerous is the Crimean scolopendra for humans?

People have reason to fear ringed scolopendras - they are poisonous centipedes. Their poison will not kill a healthy adult, but it will provide 1-3 days of illness. Individuals with poor health, children, and allergy sufferers generally risk their lives when meeting her.

Why is scolopendra dangerous in Crimea? Its bite is very painful, inflammation, swelling, and redness quickly arise around it. The victim of the attack has a fever, a headache, aching joints, hallucinations may begin, and various manifestations of allergies (including suffocation) may develop.

But scolopendra doesn't even need to bite to cause trouble. If she is irritated, her body secretes a toxic fluid. It flows down the legs. If an angry individual simply crawls along a naked area of a human torso, poisoning will already occur. The sensation can be compared to a burn; a red mark immediately appears on the skin, similar to the result of a blow from a good rod or a burn from an iron. If you look closely, you can see two lines of red dots - footprints. Symptoms of poisoning are similar to those caused by a bite.

First aid is the same in all cases:

Rinse the affected area well with a soda solution, but just water will do. It would be a good idea to wipe it with alcohol.
It needs to be cooled (with ice from the freezer or a cold compress) - it will hurt less.
You should take any available antihistamine internally.
Treat fever and headache symptomatically, as with the flu or acute respiratory illness.

If on the second day the symptoms of poisoning intensify, you need to go to the doctor. Small children or people with allergies should be transported to him immediately after a bite.

Reproduction

At one time, a female scolopendra lays approximately 120 eggs. It takes 2 months before they hatch. The scolopendra larva is small, but grows quite quickly. After 70–90 days, she is ready to give birth to her own offspring. The female creates a safe burrow in which she lays eggs. Until the cubs hatch, she stays with them. The scientific literature described cases when she ate young animals hatched from eggs. In captivity, these centipedes live up to 6–7 years. The exact age to which wild individuals live has not yet been established.

The largest centipedes of Crimea

Several species of large centipedes live in the Crimea: centipedes, flycatchers and flycatchers. Every holiday season we have to tell vacationers about them and reassure those who are already “lucky” to meet them. True, there are only a few of them, because all our centipedes lead a secretive lifestyle and for some reason do not want to communicate with tourists.

Crimean flycatchers

Large, very nimble and completely harmless centipedes.

The common flycatcher (lat. Scutigera coleoptrata) is a centipede from the order Scutigeromorpha of the labiopod class. Reaches a length of 35-60 mm. Preys on flies, moths, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, mosquitoes and other small arthropods.

If this “monster” visited your room, thank him, it is predatory and actively catches various insects, including those with whom it is extremely unpleasant to be neighbors. The only drawback of the flytrap is reflected in such demotivators:

At night, while catching insects, a flycatcher may fall from the ceiling onto your bed. But I hasten to reassure you - he will tick away from her, sparkling with all fifteen pairs of his heels. Its speed is decent - up to 40 cm per second.

Flycatchers have poison and even cause a burning sensation when they bite, but to make it bite you, you need to catch it and stick your finger in its nose, and it runs away, let me remind you, at a speed of 40 cm per second.

Here is a video of a flycatcher that decided to hunt in our apartment:

No animals were harmed during filming.

Crimean nods

These beautiful gray-brown centipedes of the Crimea with a metallic tint are real record holders for the number of legs, the nod has 740 of them! There are few of them in Western and Eastern Crimea, but on the South Coast these invertebrates, busily swarming in the old foliage, can be seen in any park.

Crimean nodule (Pachyiulus flavipes) is a detachment of two-legged centipedes. Large terrestrial invertebrates that live on the forest floor and process plant waste into humus. Usually about 40 mm long, but specimens twice this size can be found.

These vegetarians are rather slow, they are often found on the outer walls of houses, but, unlike flycatchers, they do not go inside - they have nothing to eat there. Their jaws are so weak that they not only cannot bite through human skin, they cannot even bite through root vegetables (note to gardeners), they feed only on what has already begun to rot on its own. So, don’t offend the harmless noobs, they are working to improve the already rather poor Crimean soils.

Here is a video of a small nod examining the bas-relief of A.S. Pushkin on Fiolent:

The species is not tropical, they reach a quarter of a meter in length, but they are not small either.

Crimean centipedes

At the first meeting, the scolopendra makes an indelible impression on our person, who is not accustomed to such monsters. Even I, a person with a special education, noticed this miracle in my bedroom, which is located on the 4th floor of a multi-story building in Sevastopol, and ran across the ceiling for half an hour.

The ringed scolopendra (Scolopendra cingulata) is a species of labiopods from the genus Scolopendra, common in Southern Europe. Length 10-15 cm. Predator, consumes almost everything that is not larger than itself in size, from insects to small lizards.

The likelihood of meeting this centipede for a tourist who comes to Crimea for a week or two is low, especially if he prefers beach holidays and sightseeing to tourist trips to wild places. Not even all natives have met Scolopendra. There are almost no of them in Western and Mountain Crimea, few on the South Coast, and many in the east of the peninsula.

In the Karalar Steppe Nature Reserve we met them at every step. At the same time, none of them, and all of them were more than 10 cm in length, were interested in us, but they were not afraid either. They simply went about their business, completely ignoring the anthropogenic factor.

No matter where you travel, be sure to be aware of scolopendras - check tents before you go to bed, shoes before you put them on, things before you take them. This centipede may well be resting there.

Why is scolopendra dangerous ? It can bite, but this happens extremely rarely; usually when frightened, it secretes a poisonous liquid on its legs and, running across the exposed skin, leaves an inflamed stripe on the body. This place will soon begin to burn, the person’s temperature will rise, and a lot of unpleasant sensations await him for several hours, or even a couple of days. For a healthy adult, scolopendra venom is not fatal. A child or person with poor health, as well as an allergy sufferer, must be shown to a doctor. If the centipede was not scared, then its “run” over you will remain without consequences.

Now, I no longer understand why I was so afraid of centipedes. On the contrary, I like these, albeit menacing, but beautiful, even graceful animals that are interesting to watch, and which do not show the slightest aggression towards people.

We have several videos of centipedes, but this is the most interesting:

We accidentally caught a yellow-bellied lizard (a legless lizard) hunting for a centipede and, apparently, saved the centipede, because the yellow-bellied one, seeing us, immediately let it go and ran away:

Despite their large size and terrifying appearance, all Crimean centipedes have one thing in common - they do not have the slightest desire to deal with people. Well, they don’t want to bite us, huge and scary, they just want to live in Crimea, reproduce, mind their own business, in general, do what they have always done, long before ruthless two-legged predators appeared on the peninsula.

The largest centipedes of Crimea - photos and names of insect species

Crimean flycatchers

Large, very nimble and completely harmless centipedes.

The common flycatcher (lat. Scutigera coleoptrata) is a centipede from the order Scutigeromorpha of the labiopod class. Reaches a length of 35-60 mm. Preys on flies, moths, cockroaches, spiders, fleas, mosquitoes and other small arthropods.

Flycatchers have poison and even cause a burning sensation when they bite, but in order to make it bite you, you need to catch it and stick your finger in its nose, and, let me remind you, it runs away at a speed of 40 cm per second.

Crimean nods

Crimean nodule (Pachyiulus flavipes) is a detachment of two-legged centipedes. Large terrestrial invertebrates that live on the forest floor and process plant waste into humus. Usually about 40 mm long, but specimens twice this size can be found.

The species is not tropical, they reach a quarter of a meter in length, but they are not small either.

Crimean centipedes

The ringed scolopendra (Scolopendra cingulata) is a species of labiopods from the genus Scolopendra, common in Southern Europe. Length 10-15 cm. Predator, consumes almost everything that is not larger than itself in size, from insects to small lizards.

The likelihood of a tourist coming to Crimea for a week or two meeting her is low, especially if he prefers beach holidays and sightseeing to tourist trips to wild places. Not even all natives have met Scolopendra. There are almost no of them in Western and Mountain Crimea, few on the South Coast, and many in the east of the peninsula.

In the Karalarskaya Steppe Nature Reserve we met them at every step, so we can probably call it the most terrible place in Crimea. At the same time, none of them, and all of them were more than 10 cm in length, were interested in us, but they were not afraid either. They simply went about their business, completely ignoring the anthropogenic factor.

No matter where you travel, be sure to be aware of scolopendras - check tents before you go to bed, shoes before you put them on, things before you take them. This centipede may well be resting there.

Is the domestic and Crimean ringed scolopendra dangerous for humans in Russia? It can bite, but this happens extremely rarely; usually when frightened, it secretes a poisonous liquid on its legs and, running across the exposed skin, leaves an inflamed stripe on the body. This place will soon begin to burn, the person’s temperature will rise, and a lot of unpleasant sensations await him for several hours, or even a couple of days. For an adult healthy person, the poison of the poisonous scolopendra is not fatal. A child or person with poor health, as well as an allergy sufferer, must be shown to a doctor. If the centipede was not scared, then its “run” over you will remain without consequences.

Now, I no longer understand why I was so afraid of centipedes. On the contrary, I like these, albeit menacing, but beautiful, even graceful animals, which are interesting to watch, and which do not show the slightest aggression towards people.

Mukade in Crimea

The giant centipede, called “mukade” in Japan, is a monster up to 38 centimeters in size! Mukade is one of the symbols of evil in Japanese mythology. Not only does it look scary, but it also has a strong toxic poison that can send you to the hospital with vomiting and difficulty breathing.

Eyewitnesses claim that it is she who has been spotted in the Crimea for the last few years.

How to get rid of centipedes? Precautionary measures

But given the veracity of all these “horror stories,” the scolopendra is a useful animal. It destroys many harmful insects. Its entry into the living space guarantees the main advantage - there will be no cockroaches and spiders in it very quickly, needless to say - even the deadly Black Widow (karakurt) is not its competitor. For her, a person is not prey; she herself will not just attack him.

Conclusion: for the sake of safety, if possible, avoid meeting with a scolopendra, and if you meet one, do not touch it. There is no need to turn over stones and stir up rotten leaves unless absolutely necessary. Tourists are advised to remove such things away from the tent and carefully inspect it from the inside before going to bed so that the centipede does not accidentally get in there. You cannot walk in the mountains of Crimea in open shoes, although this is unreasonable even without the insects in question.

To prevent the Crimean scolopendra from getting into your home, carefully seal the entry and exit points of pipes, securely fasten baseboards, and ensure that doors and windows are tightly closed. But the main thing is that the home must be dry, there should be no small living creatures in it.

How to get rid of scolopendra if it has penetrated into your home or garage? Not easy. It won’t be possible to squash it with a slipper like a cockroach - its durable shell will withstand the blow. If you really beat her, then do it with something hard (a hammer, a shovel, a scoop), and hit her hard, or literally smear her on the floor with your shoes. But to do this, you need to hit it, and its reaction is more expressive than that of a person. It does not react to conventional chemical insecticides.

It is recommended to thoroughly dry the room and use insecticides to kill all living things in it (smaller than centipedes in size). Then the centipede will soon move itself into more “grainful” areas. And, of course, if the opportunity presents itself, it is best to kill her in the house.

In general, the Crimean ringed scolopendra can be dangerous to humans in the same circumstances as other animals - when it seems to it that it is being encroached upon. In conclusion, we offer a video about this insect, enjoy watching!

What should you not do?

First, let's look at options that will not be effective, but at the same time they are the ones people turn to for help at first.

If at the moment this large centipede is in your field of vision, then you won’t be able to kill it with a newspaper. First of all, this is due to the fact that it moves very quickly, and its dense shell reliably protects its flat body. It will also most likely not be possible to trample, since the sole of the house slippers for the cover of this creature is soft and the scolopendra will simply squeeze into its surface for some time.
As for the use of insecticidal aerosols, it is quite difficult to obtain the expected result in this case. Why? Scolopendra is not an insect against which the action of such drugs is directed, and therefore to kill it in this way you need a large amount of the drug - you will have to spend a whole bottle of the drug on one centipede. And since these arthropods run very quickly and immediately hide at the slightest danger, long-term spraying is not possible.
On a note! In order to destroy the Crimean centipedes that have settled in your home, you need to use solutions with a high concentration of the active substance!
Sticky traps are also powerless against the Crimean centipede. And even if she gets stuck and loses a few legs, they will grow back after a while.
And it’s not at all an option to pick up this predator with your hands or trample it with your bare feet - it will immediately begin to secrete a toxic substance, and if possible, it will immediately bite. In addition, even if this arthropod is injured, for a long time it will continue to wriggle and put its poisonous paws forward.

External structure

The body of centipedes is divided into a clearly distinct head and body, consisting of more or fewer segments. The head is the result of a complete fusion of the acron and four body segments.

Typically, it bears a pair of antennae and three pairs of limbs. There are significant differences in the structure of the head limbs of different groups (labipods and bipeds). In labiopods, the head limbs are similar to those of insects.

The segmented antennae of centipedes are associated with the acron and correspond to the antennae of insects. They are homologous to the antennules of crayfish and are not limbs. The first segment of the head does not bear any limbs. It is called intercalary or intercalary. Thus, in centipedes, the first pair of head limbs, homologous to the antennae of crayfish, was reduced.

On the second head segment there is a pair of chewing plates with jagged edges - mandibles, or mandibles. Next is a pair of mandibles, or first maxillae, followed by a pair of second maxillae. In the second maxillae, the main segments fuse together, forming, like in insects, the lower lip.

In bipeds (kivsyak), the oral apparatus is distinguished by the absence of the first pair of maxillae, while the maxillae of the second pair are fused into an unpaired plate of complex structure, the so-called gnathohilarium.

The number of body segments in different species of labiopods is very different, from 10 to 170 or more. Species with a large number of segments are characterized by greater homogeneity of their structure.

Some centipedes (scolopendra, flycatcher) have 25-27 segments that are more or less homonomic, with the exception of the posterior ones. Others exhibit a kind of heteronomy. Thus, in a drupe (19 segments), as can be seen in Figure 250, longer segments alternate with shorter ones.

The limbs of centipedes are typical single-branched walking jointed legs, in the most complete case consisting of eight segments ending in a claw. Each segment, except the anal, in labiopods corresponds to a pair of jointed, well-developed walking legs. Some of these limbs are greatly modified.

Thus, the legs of the first trunk segment are transformed into strong jaws, which serve as the catching part of the oral apparatus. These limbs are hook-shaped, with very sharp claw-like segments. Driven by strong muscles, they are a device for grasping and killing prey.

Inside each mandible there is a poisonous gland, the duct of which opens near the end of the claw. The vasal segments of both maxillae are fused into a wide unpaired plate. These limbs gave rise to the name of the subclass - labiopods. The limbs of the posterior segments can be modified into sexual appendages or into elongated tactile limbs (in drupes).

In bipeds, the limbs of the body segments are arranged quite uniformly. The first segment of the body is devoid of limbs. The second, third and fourth segments each have one pair of legs, and starting from the fifth, all body segments have two pairs of legs. Thus, in bipeds, the first four (including the legless) segments could be called thoracic, in contrast to the remaining abdominal ones.

The presence of two pairs of limbs on each segment of bipeds is explained by this. that each centipede segment is formed by the fusion of two adjacent segments. This is proven by the formation of segments and limbs in ontogenesis, as well as a number of anatomical facts. Thus, on the segments bearing two pairs of legs, there are two pairs of stigmas, two paired nerve ganglia, and two pairs of ostia in the heart chamber.

Digestive system

The digestive system consists of the intestines in the form of an almost straight tube, most of which is the midgut. Millipedes, unlike crustaceans and arachnids, do not have a liver. There are one or two pairs of salivary glands.

Respiratory system

Most millipedes usually have one pair of respiratory stigmas on each segment or across a segment, while in bipeds there are two pairs of stigmata on almost all segments. In the latter, the stigmata lead into bundles of isolated thin unbranched tracheas. In labiopods, the tracheal system is highly developed.

Stigmas lead into large tracheal trunks, which branch quite strongly, breaking up into small tracheae. The latter are suitable for various organs. The wall of the trachea is formed by a single-layer epithelium, lined from the inside with chitin, with a characteristic spiral thickening that counteracts the collapse of the walls of the trachea.

Circulatory system

Millipedes have an open circulatory system, which consists of a tubular heart and a fairly developed network of arterial vessels. The heart is located in the dorsal region of the myxocoel, incompletely separated from the rest of the body. It consists of metamerically arranged chambers, which each have one pair of awns.

Not only the ostia, but also the narrowed spaces between the cardiac chambers are equipped with a valve mechanism. The heart is suspended from the dorsal wall of the body on special cords and contracts sequentially from the posterior end to the anterior. Special pterygoid muscles are attached directly under the heart. The vessels extending from the heart are developed differently in different species of millipedes.

Excretory system

The excretory organs in millipedes are one or two pairs of non-branching Malpighian vessels, lying in the myxocele along the entire body and flowing into the intestine at the border between the midgut and hindgut.

In addition, the excretory function is performed by an organ characteristic of centipedes (also of insects) - the fat body. The fat body is an organ of indeterminate shape, consisting of many cells in which reserve nutrients accumulate in the form of fat droplets. These cells also perform an excretory function, accumulating uric acid in the form of nodules.

Nervous system

In millipedes, the nervous system is represented by the suprapharyngeal ganglion, which forms the brain, peripharyngeal connectives, and the ventral nerve cord.

Sense organs

Centipedes have organs of touch, smell and vision. The organs of touch are the antennae, and in some centipedes (drupes) the limbs of the rear part of the body. The smallest olfactory tubes are also concentrated on the antennae.

Some centipedes have single eyes of a relatively simple structure. Others (drupes) have many ocelli, they are collected in two groups, giving the impression of compound eyes.

However, ommatidia are located rarely, not adjacent to each other. Finally, some centipedes (flycatchers) have typical compound eyes.

Reproductive system

All millipedes are dioecious. In labiopods, the male and female genital organs open through the genital opening on the preanal segment.

The limbs of this segment in males are changed into a copulatory organ. In bipeds and other centipedes, paired genital openings open on the third body segment. Fertilized eggs are often laid in small holes.

Some centipedes, for example our common drupe, after laying eggs, curl up around a pile of eggs in a ring, protecting them. In this state they can usually be found under rocks in the summer.

Development

Centipede eggs are very rich in yolk (centrolecithal type), and their crushing is superficial. Postembryonic development occurs differently in different groups of millipedes. In some centipedes, young animals hatch from eggs that do not yet have the full number of segments.

Their number increases further with each molt. New segments are formed before the last anal segment. For example, in some labiopods, the egg hatches into a young animal with seven body segments that bear 7 pairs of legs. In two artiopods, the “larva” has 7 segments, but only three segments have limbs.

This type of postembryonic development, when the formation of new segments continues in the growth zone between the penultimate and anal segments, is called anamorphosis. In hawksbills (Julidae), the number of body segments is indefinite, since their increase continues throughout life (lifelong anamorphosis).

For all arthropods and other metameric animals with a preanal growth zone (primarily annelids), according to V.N. Beklemishev, “lifelong anamorphosis and an indefinitely large number of segments are purely morphologically indisputably primary.” This does not exclude in some cases secondary elongation of the body of animals.

In some labiopods (scolopendra, geophila, etc.), development proceeds differently. A young animal emerges from the egg with a full number of segments, and postembryonic development in this case is reduced to growth, changes in the shape of the segments and details of their structure. This type of development is called direct.

How to protect your home from scolopendra?

The appearance of the ringed scolopendra causes fear and shock in people; it is much more unpleasant than a simple domestic cockroach. Naturally, if an insect is encountered at home, there is a desire to quickly expel it from the residential area. To protect your home from the Crimean scolopendra, you need to study the conditions that are not comfortable for it. The most effective methods of dealing with the enemy are as follows:

Getting rid of moisture. If the room is damp, it attracts insects, so you should drain and ventilate the rooms, repair plumbing, fix pipe leaks, etc. Cleanliness, dryness and light are what centipedes are afraid of.
Repair of gaps and cracks in the facade of the building. Since centipedes have a flat body, they penetrate into the home into the smallest cracks in the house.
Equipping windows with mosquito-proof frames.
Regular cleaning of the garden area: removal of fallen leaves, garbage, natural landfills.
Destruction of pests and insects in the house that scolopendra feeds on: cockroaches, fleas, flies, ants.

Toxicity

Since the Crimean centipede prefers to lead a hidden lifestyle and is always well camouflaged, when on vacation it is quite easy to miss and disturb it. And since this arthropod is also very aggressive, at the slightest sense of danger it will attack.

Is the Crimean scolopendra dangerous for humans? The venom of these arthropods consists of a set of enzymes that are capable of not only killing prey, but also digesting its internal contents. For humans, this poisonous secretion does not pose a mortal danger, although it causes quite noticeable pain. After a bite, the affected area can become very inflamed, body temperature often rises, chills and aches appear. As a result, carelessness can result in severe retribution - illness that will last for several days. However, usually all symptoms disappear after 2-3 days.

Advice! But despite this, after a scolopendra bite, it is still advisable to consult a doctor, especially when the victim is a child, an allergy sufferer, or a person with a weakened immune system!

But not only the bite of the Crimean scolopendra causes pain. At the moment of fright, this arthropod secretes a sticky substance, upon contact with which you can feel a strong burning and itching. In addition, this secretion, when in contact with the skin, can provoke an allergic reaction.

Classification

Centipedes do not form a fairly monolithic class, but are divided into groups so different from each other that many zoologists divide the class of millipedes into four different classes.

We will consider these groups at the rank of subclasses. The class of centipedes (Myriapoda) is divided into four subclasses, two of which are of greatest importance: 1. Dipopods (Diplopoda); 2. Lipopods (Chilopoda).

Subclass Diplopoda

This largest group includes about 7,200 species of moisture-loving centipedes that live in the forest floor, under fallen trees and in stumps. They, unlike some labiopods, rarely climb tree trunks.

Bipeds feed on rotting leaves and decaying wood. Due to their abundance, they bring significant benefits by participating in the mineralization of organic residues: forest litter, dead wood, etc.

In our fauna, peculiar centipedes are common - nooks (genus Julus), with an almost round body in cross section, distinguished by a very large number of legs and slow movements. Nozzles, disturbed by something, curl up into a spiral.

Many bipeds have venom glands on the lateral sections of their dorsal scutes. In some tropical species of millipedes, the poison contains hydrocyanic acid; it was once used by Indians to poison arrows.

What to do if bitten by a centipede?

The bite of this predator is extremely painful. Negative symptoms begin to develop immediately after the attack. Usually they are more pronounced in a child than in an adult. After a scolopendra bite, you must immediately provide first aid to the victim. Correct actions will help stop further deterioration of the clinical picture and prevent the development of severe consequences of a scolopendra bite.

Symptoms of a ringed scolopendra bite

It is not always possible for a person to understand that he has been stung by a centipede, because he can simply step on it and not notice it. The first thing a victim feels after a bite is acute pain and burning. The predator, digging into the skin, leaves 2 small punctures, similar to needle marks.

It is believed that the venom of the ringed scolopendra is not so toxic as to lead to paralysis and death of a person. In most situations, the symptoms of its entry into the human body are more unpleasant than dangerous. However, in any case, especially if a child is injured, they require immediate medical measures.

You can understand that it was a centipede that bit the child by the following signs:

redness at the site of the bite;
swelling in the affected area;
increased body temperature and blood pressure;
deterioration in general health: weakness, dizziness, headache, attacks of nausea and vomiting, causeless anxiety;
heart rhythm disturbance.

These are common symptoms of centipede venom entering the human body. In some cases, against the background of its bite, the following may occur:

develop an allergic reaction or kidney failure;
enlarged lymph nodes;
numb the tissue in the affected area;
blisters appear;
necrotic phenomena occur in tissues;
anaphylactic shock or myocardial infarction occur.

First aid and further treatment

What happens after a centipede bite depends on the condition of the victim. Usually the discomfort disappears after a few days, and in most cases, medical attention is not required. Allergy sufferers and parents of children who have been bitten should be especially vigilant.

The first thing to do after a predator attack:

thoroughly rinse the wound under running water and laundry soap - it is recommended to do this for at least 10 minutes to completely remove the poison from the wound;
treat the affected area with an antiseptic composition (potassium permanganate, furatsilin solution);
apply a sterile bandage;
put the victim to bed and give him water often.

To relieve painful manifestations, the following are indicated:

taking painkillers;
use of antihistamines;
applying ice to the bite site;
use of antibacterial agents when symptoms of infection appear;
administration of antitetanus serum if necessary.

If you are bitten by a centipede, you should not:

cauterize a wound;
apply a tourniquet - this will not prevent the spread of scolopendra venom throughout the body, but can lead to blood stagnation, tissue death and the development of gangrene;
attempt to suck out or otherwise remove poison;
Drink alcohol-containing drinks – alcohol speeds up the absorption of toxins.

The victim requires attention within 2-3 days after the centipede attack. If his temperature rises, his respiratory system worsens, or convulsions appear, you must immediately call an ambulance or take him to the nearest medical facility yourself.