What is a centipede insect actually? Common description, types, harm and benefits, methods of struggle

A long body, the edges of which are strewn with paws, is an insect centipede, as is commonly believed, although from a biological point of view this is not true. They are a separate superclass of arthropods. Its representatives can be seen almost all over the world with the exception of permafrost regions. Millipedes are not uncommon in the middle lane and even in human dwellings.

Description of millipedes and their common forms

In Latin, this superclass of invertebrate animals is called Myriapoda. It includes 4 classes of arthropods:

• sea-legged;
• two-legged;
• pauropod;
• symphile.

All of them are centipedes, although each of the classes has its own distinctive features, distinguishing them from other relatives.

The most famous representatives of this superclass, with which a person deals, are:

1. Kivsyak, widespread in temperate latitudes, including Eurasia. The length of adult specimens ranges from 2 to 25 cm. Kivsyaki is very fond of humidity. This is one of the reasons for the appearance of millipedes in the apartment. They easily penetrate into the bathrooms and bathrooms. Feeling the danger, quickly curl up into a spiral.
2. Drupe has a short (up to 25 mm) body of red color, which is slightly flattened. Thanks to this, the millipede easily enters the premises through narrow slits.
3. The flycatcher, often referred to as the centipede, is another frequent guest in homes. She prefers well-moistened places, therefore she usually chooses a bathroom, a basement or a room on the ground floor for living. It has a segmented body of 15 sections, each of which has a pair of legs. Legs on the last segment are noticeably longer than on the others, and they are confused with a mustache. The paws of the anterior segment partially fulfill the function of capturing food.
4. Scolopendras are a genus of 90 species. Its representatives live in areas with a warm climate. Their poison and mucus are dangerous to humans.

In total, millipedes are 12,000 species.

Structure

The body of each millipede consists of a long body and a rounded head. Usually, the latter from below is almost flat (the gagopods are an exception to this rule) to make it easier for arthropods to move along surfaces. Also on the head there is a pair of antennae that perform the function of a tactile and olfactory organ. Scientifically, they are called antennuli. Food is provided by 2 pairs of jaws: the upper - mandibles, and the lower - maxilla.

The elongated trunk of the millipede has the shape of an elongated cylinder and consists of many segments, each of which is provided with a pair or more legs (often 4 legs on the abdominal segments and 2 on the chest). Therefore, it is impossible to unequivocally answer the question, how many legs are centipedes. Their number can be 742 (this is the number of limbs recorded in Siphonophora millepeda from Puerto Rico), but usually much less - 10-400 pieces.

The number of legs in millipedes is different even within the same species and depends on the gender of the individual: females have more limbs.

Millipedes are almost blind, and most species can only distinguish between light and darkness, while others have no eyes at all. But they have a good sense of smell and touch. Color usually varies from gray to brown. Centipedes are often decorated with dark stripes. There are tropical species of very bright colors.

How do millipedes live?

Different types of millipedes inhabit almost the entire Earth. Most often they can be found in forests of temperate and tropical latitudes. They can also live in meadows, steppes and even deserts near water sources. The exception is permafrost regions.

For successful life and intensive reproduction, millipedes require a sufficient amount of moisture. Unlike spiders and insects, they lack a wax cuticle that traps water in the body. Therefore, millipedes prefer to hide on sunny days under stones, trees, construction debris and in other secluded corners.

Food

All millipedes are predators by nature. Although the experiment, conducted in a laboratory, showed: with a long absence of food, they do not disdain plant food.

The tendrils play an important role in the hunt for prey. They detect the presence of insects, which are the main victims of small species. Millipedes inject poison into the prey. At the same time, for example, the giant scolopendra is not averse to feasting on frogs and slow birds. Hunting usually occurs at night. But millipedes themselves often become prey. In case of danger, they prefer to flee or hide.

Breeding

In temperate regions, millipedes lay their eggs in spring and summer when the air temperature is warm enough. In hot countries, this process continues year-round. A pregnant female digs a small hole in moist soil, where it lays 10 to 50 small testicles, and then disguises the place, slightly sprinkling it with earth.

The duration of embryonic development varies greatly among species. It can take from 1 to several months. Stages of growth and their time, length of life also differ. Some species live up to 6 years, which is a significant indicator.

Some females, in particular the scolopendra, are caring mothers guarding the clutch and even young offspring.

Millipedes in the house: a frightening neighborhood

Millipedes often appear in the house. They come to a person’s home in search of food: cockroaches, bugs, fleas, moths. The need for moisture makes it settle in the underground, bathroom, on the ground floor. For hunting, centipedes can crawl out of their shelter into other rooms.

A millipede bite is usually not dangerous. The exception is poisonous species living in regions with a warm climate. In conditions of temperate latitudes, individuals who are unable to bite through human skin live. Moreover, arthropods cannot be called aggressive creatures that attack humans. On the contrary, very often when large animals and especially humans appear, they rush to retire.

Millipedes also do not spoil furniture, wallpaper, plumbing. These arthropods do no harm to man and his property. They even benefit by killing small pests and parasites.

But still, the inhabitants of the premises in which these creatures wound up often begin to look for ways to get rid of millipedes at home. This is mainly due to squeamishness and aversion to creatures whose appearance can hardly be called attractive. Although some exotic lovers keep arthropods as pets.

What to do?

How to get rid of a millipede who has become an uninvited guest? First of all, you need to inspect the ventilation shafts in the bathroom and toilet, and also check the grilles in the floor. These are the main routes of entry into arthropods. If necessary, a mosquito net can be installed on them, and then periodically treated with insecticides.

It is important to remember that millipede does not live in dry rooms. Therefore, if a tap leaks somewhere, then the malfunction must be repaired. She also needs a lot of food, and most likely there are many other pests in the house that need to be fought.

Insect Control Chemicals

There are no specific drugs to combat millipede. Against it, you can use universal insecticides:

• the familiar "Dichlorvos";
• aerosol "Reid";
• gel against cockroaches "Great warrior"
• Medilis-Ziper is a toxic, but very effective remedy.

But sticky traps are useless to use - only a few paws will remain on them, which for a millipede will be an insignificant loss.

The only harm that the millipede in the house does is the psychological discomfort of being near it. To get rid of it, you need to fight with other insects and high humidity; and also use special insecticides.