Can the house flycatcher pose a danger to humans?

To some people, flycatchers seem to be terrible creatures that can do a lot of harm. Others claim that these are the most useful creatures of nature and protect them. Let's figure out whether flycatchers are dangerous and what to do if you encounter them.

The common flycatcher is a predatory centipede of the genus Scutigera coleoptrata. It is also called the house centipede or the house centipede - it is important here not to confuse it with the real centipede, because there is a big difference between them.

The flycatcher hunts small insects and other arthropods, and does it very cleverly. Its diet consists of flies, midges, cockroaches, termites, two-tailed insects, moths, silverfish, spiders and other crawling and flying little things.

Social structure and reproduction

Photo: Centipede at home

All centipedes are loners, but in case of a chance meeting, individuals usually quietly crawl away and fights between them are extremely rare. There were no cases of cannibalism among these creatures. The last days of May or the beginning of June is the breeding season of centipedes. By this time, females begin to produce special substances, attracting a male.

Their fertilization process is peculiar:

• the male closes the entrance to his dwelling in the ground with a web and deposits his spermaphore in the resulting sac;
• the female crawls under the sperm sac and grabs it with her genital appendages, and after a few days lays eggs in a dug hole, which she then covers with sticky mucus.

The clutch may consist of 70-130 eggs. For several weeks, the female guards the clutch, clasping it with her paws. To protect against mold, it secretes a special substance. The larvae emerge together. They are initially white in color and very soft with four pairs of legs. With each molt, the young grow new pairs of legs, and the body color gradually darkens. Only after the fifth or sixth molt the larvae will have 15 pairs of limbs. Under natural conditions, centipedes live 4-6 years. Young animals become completely similar to adults only after puberty.

Kivsyaki – description and photo

In fact, nods are a fairly large order of Arthropods. They are distributed all over the world (in Asia, America, Europe, and Africa), they look like plump worms ranging in size from 10 mm to 25 cm, whose body is divided into numerous segments, each of which has two pairs of legs. Due to such a number of limbs, it feels like a real fringe is swaying under the moving nod.

On top, the body of the nodule is more rigid - a calcareous shell protects it from possible predators; on the sides of the body along its entire length there are many glands that secrete a yellowish odorous secretion, sometimes poisonous (also protection). They breathe with the help of tracheas, and reproduce by laying eggs, from which larvae later hatch. Every year, the nooses molt, growing additional segments with new legs.

There are many types of nodule - olive, spotted, true, African, thin, black African, giant, gray, etc. Some are distributed throughout the world, others are endemic to certain zones, some are even listed in the Red Books of various countries.

The nooses of temperate latitudes vary in size and color, and live mainly in grass, leaf and wood litter, feeding on it (such organisms are called saprophytophages), and cannot tolerate direct sunlight. They are most numerous and diverse in deciduous and mixed forests, in forest-steppes, where they live in the forest litter and top layer of soil, without going to a depth of more than 30 cm. Whereas in coniferous and mountain forests there are very few noses.

Nooses eat a lot - the daily ration of one individual can be 1.5 times its body weight! Such a high feeding activity of these invertebrates is only beneficial for the forest. If there are a lot of grasshoppers and the conditions for them are suitable (soil and air humidity, mineral composition of the soil, amount of oxygen, etc.), these arthropods are able to process up to 50% of the litter decomposing per year, crushing, processing and mineralizing it, contributing to the formation of soft humus .

What does this mean for a gardener? Why should such useful grasshoppers be welcomed in every possible way in the garden beds and certainly not try to get rid of them on the site? On the one hand, many garden plants will really thank you for such neighbors - for example, roses will really like this soil. But things are not always so simple.

The fact is that these arthropods are very sensitive to lack and excess of moisture. If there is a shortage of it, they try to compensate for its quantity by “refusing” dead litter in favor of living roots and root crops, green succulent parts of plants or fallen (or close to the soil surface) fruits and berries, causing damage to garden, field and vegetable crops. In areas with a dry spring, nooses simply emerge from under the tree canopy into the fields in the cooler hours of the day and feed on seedlings. The same thing happens when there is an outbreak of invertebrate populations.

In the garden, according to experienced gardeners, these arthropods make up for the lack of moisture in food most often with the help of tender seedlings, strawberries, cucumbers and apples and pears, becoming real soil pests.

Care

How to care for a Venus flytrap at home?

Exotic plants are increasingly being grown at home. Any person is interested in observing a unique and unique natural organism. Increasingly, the predator flower “Venus flytrap” can be found in ordinary hypermarkets that also sell flowers.

ATTENTION! The Venus flytrap is a very capricious plant for which it is not easy to create suitable conditions.

Lighting

It requires special care at home. It is recommended to place Dionea in a well-lit place. If she has the opportunity to enjoy four or five hours of sunlight per day, the traps will develop well, reaching the largest possible size and intense coloration.

ATTENTION! The plant is shaded from direct sultry rays.

Temperature

Under natural conditions, Dionea lives at the following temperatures: in summer the range is from nine to twenty-six degrees Celsius, and in winter – no higher than seven degrees.

Watering

Dionea is watered not from above, but through a tray, using distilled, melt or rain water. The earthen clod must not be allowed to dry out. In summer, watering is also carried out in the following way: lower the pot into water for twenty to thirty minutes.

ATTENTION! If a gardener collects rainwater, he must keep in mind that it cannot be stored in metal containers for a long time, because it absorbs metal salts that are harmful to Dionaea.

Humidity

It is necessary to maintain a high level of humidity for the plant. Air humidification includes periodic spraying and placing a container of water or moistened fabrics next to the pot. At any time of the year, home Venus is protected from exposure to air currents.

The soil

Inexperienced gardeners can plant indoor flycatchers in universal soil. This is a fatal mistake that will ultimately lead to the death of the plant.

For planting, you need to mix high-moor peat and perlite (proportion 1:1 or 2:1). Before planting, the mixture is well moistened.

Feeding

At home, Venus feeds on any insects caught in the trap. What to feed the Venus Flytrap? There is no need to feed a flytrap located in an open room with insects, but if the need arises (for example, there are no insects indoors at all), you can introduce a live mosquito, spider or fly into the trap (it will not react to a dead creature).

You cannot feed the plant with worms, caterpillars, larvae, bloodworms and meat products.

IMPORTANT! The flycatcher does not require the usual fertilizers applied to the soil by flower growers.

Transfer

Venus is transplanted once every one or two years. It is better to carry out manipulations before flowering begins (late spring). The pot is selected to be deep, and a good drainage layer is installed at the bottom.

Reproduction

Propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush and seeds.

Seeds can be obtained from your own specimen by hand pollinating each flower in early spring. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in Epin or stratified. Then they are planted in prepared soil and a greenhouse is organized, providing sufficient light and high air humidity.

After the first leaves appear, the seedlings are ventilated. One to two months after the detection of seedlings, the sprouts are planted in pots.

Easily propagated using bulbs. In the first month of summer, the main plant produces babies. When their roots grow, you can simply plant them out.

You can learn more about the conditions of keeping the Venus flytrap and the features of care at home in the video below:

Nutrition

All representatives of the superclass are predators. They usually eat:

• ants and their larvae;
• domestic cockroaches;
• flies, ticks.

Some species, such as the giant and ringed scolopendra, found in South America and Jamaica, are capable of hunting mice, frogs and lizards.

Centipedes use poison to paralyze and kill their victims. However, there is no need to be afraid of them: the poison produced by centipedes is harmful only to small arthropods, but not to mammals. In rare cases, the poison can provoke allergies.

Centipedes feed as follows. Having caught the victim, they inject poison into them and hold it with strong jaws and paws until the insect is completely immobilized. Only after this do they start eating.

Centipedes also destroy insects that harm agriculture. In some countries, for this reason they are under government protection.

Prevention

Coping with the invasion is half the battle. Without proper prevention, arthropods will return to your home. To prevent this from happening, follow our recommendations:

• keep the rooms clean;
• seal all the cracks, do cosmetic repairs;
• get rid of the food supply (centipedes feed on small insects);
• fix faulty plumbing fixtures.

Dry and clean rooms do not attract insects. Are there gnats, spiders or flies? Next in line are centipedes. Keep the apartment dry and clean, ventilate the rooms, and seal the cracks. All these are guarantees of safety.

Habitats

A description and photo of scolopendra can be found on the website. It is advisable to do this for those people who are going on trips to warm or tropical countries. It is there that the centipede and tropical scolopendra grow to gigantic sizes and pose a real danger to humans. Their body length reaches 26-30 cm. There are individuals up to 45-50 cm. Therefore, the question of where centipedes live is interesting for humans. They can be found on the islands of Jamaica, Trinidad, and in the north and west of South America.

Scolopendra

Basically, real scolopendras are found in the upper layers of the soil, under stones, lying logs, in rock crevices and other secluded corners, where humidity is maintained during the hot time of the day, and no one can disturb them. A natural question arises as to whether the poisonous centipede can be found in places with colder climates and, if so, where this predatory insect lives in Russia. There are different types of insects, some of which live in the Russian Federation.

Population and species status

Photo: Centipede

The centipede population is not in danger, since they are very prolific and have virtually no enemies. More often, the opposite task is faced - how to get rid of them if they have settled in a house or apartment. Despite the fact that flycatchers are not dangerous to people and even destroy harmful insects, living with them in the same living space will not be pleasant for anyone. This can become a very serious problem, since ordinary insect repellents are powerless here. It is necessary to change the conditions comfortable for these creatures and then they will go away on their own:

• centipedes love dampness very much, which means it is necessary to remove the source of high humidity - do not leave puddles or wet rags on the floor, fix the taps;
• You should ventilate the premises more often and, if necessary, install a ventilation system;
• destroy all insects in the house, as they can attract centipedes as a food source;
• remove all old trash, rotten boards, mold from the basement;
• close the entry routes inside the room for centipedes - install screens on the windows, repair the floors, and so on.

As soon as the living conditions cease to satisfy the flycatchers, they will immediately leave the territory. If these creatures have settled on a summer cottage, then you should not disturb them, as they eat many harmful insects. In some countries, for example in Ukraine, flycatchers are listed in the Red Book and are protected.

The centipede is not the most pleasant neighbor, but it is better to be “friends” with it since it benefits humans, effectively destroying many parasitic insects that are dangerous to people. This is exactly the case when appearances are deceiving and behind the vile appearance hides a little friend, and not a big enemy.

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How to effectively solve the problem

An integrated approach should be taken to any problem. To find out how to remove centipedes, you need to carefully read each option and adopt the ones that are most suitable for the specific situation in the house.

List of effective preventive measures

In order for a centipede to leave its habitable space, it must be deprived of the necessary factors of existence. So the insect will be forced to go in search of more comfortable habitats for it. What should you do first?

1. Ensure normal humidity levels at home. By depriving the labiopods of a moist environment, they will stop reproducing.
2. Take care of ventilation of the premises - install air dehumidifiers or ventilation heat devices.
3. Check that all water pipes are in good condition and that there is no condensation on them.
4. Maintain dryness in the basement of a cottage or country house; promptly eliminate dampness and mold on all surfaces.
5. Remove all harmful insects (cockroaches, beetles, flies and mosquitoes, bedbugs and fleas) from your home. Without food in the house, centipedes will not stay long; they will leave on their own.
6. Block all known places of entry of arthropods into the home: eliminate cracks in the floor, on the walls (especially near doors), and holes in window openings. In the toilet and bathroom, it is advisable to fill the cracks with silicone. It is recommended to install a mosquito net on the windows.
7. Constantly inspect the local area to ensure there are no rubble or other impurities like various deposits. In them, the centipede will begin to reproduce at an accelerated pace, and therefore will soon appear at home.

Interaction with people

Centipedes generally have little impact on human economic or social well-being. At the local level, they can become an agricultural pest.

Centipede bites, burns

They don't bite. Their protective secretions are harmless to humans and usually cause only a slight change in skin color. The secretions of some tropical species can cause pain, itching, local erythema, swelling, blisters, eczema, and cracked skin.

The impact of discharge on the eyes causes general irritation, more serious consequences such as conjunctivitis, keratitis. Called centipede burn. First aid is to thoroughly rinse the area with water. Further treatment is aimed at alleviating local effects.

Pests

Some centipedes are considered household pests, including Xenobolus carnifex, which infects thatched roofs in India, and Ommatoiulus moreleti, which periodically invades apartments in Australia.

Other species exhibit periodic swarming behavior that results in home invasions, crop damage, and train delays when tracks become slippery with the crushed remains of hundreds of centipedes.

They can cause significant damage to crops: the spotted snake millipede (Blaniulus guttulatus) is a known pest of sugar beets and other root crops.

Some large centipedes of the orders Spirobolida, Spirostreptida, Sphaerotheriida are popular as pets.

Some cultures associate the centipede with rain. In Zambia, the crushed insect is used to treat wounds. The Bafians of Cameroon use centipede juice to treat earache.

The indigenous people of Malaysia use their secretions in poisoned arrows. The secretion of Spirobolus bungii was found to stop the division of human cancer cells. People from Burkina Faso eat boiled, dried centipedes in tomato sauce.

Centipedes in the house, why are such neighbors dangerous?

The appearance of a flycatcher in a house does not threaten its residents. The insect is more active in the dark, so the risk of encountering it will increase at night. When the light is turned on, the centipede rushes to a secluded crevice. If a centipede is spotted in a house in the summer, it is better to catch it and take it outside. You need to catch it not with your hands, but with a can or box. In tropical countries where there are no harsh winters, flycatchers do not migrate into houses.

Having settled next to a person, the insect does not encroach on his food, plants and pets. Centipedes do not chew furniture or wallpaper and are not carriers of dangerous diseases. There will also not be an invasion of large numbers of flycatchers; they do not live in families. You can get along peacefully with them, even benefiting from such a neighborhood. The little predator copes well with annoying flies, and if cockroaches are hiding in the apartment, the centipede will get to them.

Is the centipede dangerous for humans? If there is a clear threat to life, such as a pet or human attack, it may bite and inject venom under the skin. A small dose of a paralyzing toxin is not lethal to pets, much less to people. It causes an unpleasant sensation, but no more than a bee sting. A tendency to be allergic to insect venom can aggravate the situation, causing swelling and general malaise.

Do centipedes bite?

Even the most non-aggressive creature can bite out of fear. A flycatcher, even if it attacks an adult, in most cases will not be able to bite through the skin. Children's skin is more delicate and thin, so getting wounds is real. Symptoms of toxin entering the body include redness, itching and burning. What to do if bitten by a centipede? The first piece of advice is don't panic. The poison is very weak and will not cause any harm to health. It is worth acting according to the circumstances:

• disinfect the wound with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide;
• if there is a strong burning sensation and swelling, you should apply a cold compress and hold it until the discomfort disappears;
• if the bite site hurts, take an antihistamine and pain reliever.

How to get rid of a flytrap

Not everyone likes the presence of an unpleasant insect in the house, which can fall from the wall directly onto anyone’s head. Many people are afraid of a centipede bite and its consequences. A change in the conditions that are comfortable for it can force the common flycatcher to leave its favorite place. Simple and affordable actions against centipedes:

• The flycatcher loves dampness - it is necessary to ensure a normal level of humidity. Wipe up puddles on the floor in a timely manner, fix leaking taps, and do not leave wet wipes or rags on.
• Airing and good ventilation also reduce humidity in the room.
• Check the basement; there is often an accumulation of rotten boards, old paper, mold and dampness.
• Try to deprive the flytrap of food, destroy flies, cockroaches and other prey yourself.
• Block possible routes of entry into the house - fill cracks with mortar, put screens on windows, repair cracks in the wooden floor.

The centipede or flytrap is not the most pleasant neighbor, but it is useful. Various insect parasites exist hidden in every home. The predatory centipede effectively destroys pests. If you ignore her repulsive appearance, it will be a mutually beneficial partnership.

Fighting methods

The use of repellents or extended-spectrum insecticidal sprays, which have a high concentration, will help drive out multipedes that have multiped and come across even during daylight hours.
There are no special preparations for house centipedes in the apartment. Popular drugs:

1. Aerosol Raid. Non-toxic product with lavender scent.
2. Liquid Medilis-Ziper for dilution with water and spraying. It has a pungent odor and requires respiratory protection when working.
3. A strong insecticide with lambda-cyhalothrin has no pungent odor and does not harm people or pets.
4. Globol (odorless gel) has strong toxicity, flycatchers will not return soon.
5. Great Warrior (gel) fights cockroaches and ants, but flycatchers and earwigs also do not like this product.

As a home remedy, you can sprinkle boric acid powder where centipedes run around the apartment.

In autumn, when the temperature drops again, flycatchers flock to warm residential buildings and, if there is sufficient humidity and plentiful food, happily remain there. And the owners of apartments and houses immediately face the question of how to get rid of the domestic centipede.

The following recommendations can be made here:

first of all, it is necessary to remove dampness and reduce humidity, special attention should be paid to the bathroom, kitchen and bathroom, in addition, it is recommended to ventilate the pantry; Sticky traps can help catch flycatchers - they are placed in the above rooms and changed as they are filled; if you find only one centipede, then simply throw it out of the house; On a note! As a rule, these creatures penetrate residential buildings alone and extremely rarely settle in colonies!

Aerosol insecticides cope quite well with centipedes, and you can use any preparation against crawling insects: “Raptor”, “Combat”, “Raid”, etc. You can also use poisonous gels - among the most effective are Globol, Fas and "Storm"; pay special attention to the destruction of domestic insects - if the centipede does not have anything to eat, it will soon leave your house on its own; close all possible entry points for centipedes - inspect the foundation, floor, walls, window frames and doorways and, if cracks are found, repair them immediately. In short, in order to get rid of the domestic scolopendra, you need to establish ideal order in your home and try to constantly maintain it

Avoid stagnation of water and high humidity, carry out timely control of small pests and clean up the yard

In a word, in order to get rid of domestic scolopendra, you need to establish ideal order in your home and try to constantly maintain it. Avoid stagnation of water and high humidity, carry out timely control of small pests and clean up the yard.

Understanding what a scolopendra looks like, what habits it has, where it hides and what it eats, you can develop a plan to get it out of the house. To get rid of insects in an apartment forever, you need to conduct a thorough analysis of the premises, solving problems with dampness and moisture in individual areas.

Considering that centipedes feed on small insects, you need to try to make sure that there are no insects in the house at all. No food - no arthropod predators.

Leaking pipes in the bathroom or toilet must be repaired or replaced. Otherwise, none of the methods of combating flycatchers will work. Comfortable indoor conditions will attract more and more individuals there.

If arthropods in the house feel more than at ease despite all preventive measures, continue to reproduce and are increasingly seen even during the day, it is worth trying to use repellents or insecticidal sprays for crawling creatures

It doesn’t matter whether the flytrap is an insect or not, drugs of this kind most often have a wide spectrum of action

Varieties of centipedes and their habitat

There are a lot of varieties of centipedes, almost all of them are similar in body structure and a large number of legs. Let's look at the most famous species of centipedes and their habitat.

Common flycatcher (scutigera)

Scolopendra scutigera is a centipede from the order Scutigeromorpha of the labiopod class. The adult is 35 to 60 mm long, yellow-gray in color with long striped legs.

Feeds on small insects. Lives in Southern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. They are also found in the territory of Ukraine, the Caucasus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and southern Russia.

The natural habitat of the common flycatcher is dry fallen leaves. With the onset of cold weather, it begins to seek shelter, so it may end up in an apartment, especially in damp rooms - a bathroom, toilet, basement.

Scolopendra scutigera - the common flycatcher eats a fly on a person's hand

It is practically safe for humans, as it cannot bite through the skin of humans and pets. The maximum harm that scolopendra scutigera can cause to a person is redness and swelling of the skin; its bite is comparable to the sting of one wasp.

It also does not cause any harm to exposed food and furniture, and in some regions it is generally considered a rare beneficial species of arthropod that cannot be killed. Therefore, do not be afraid if you meet her at home, carefully pick her up with a net or other tool and send her “for a walk” outside the window.

Giant centipede - the largest centipede

The giant scolopendra lives most often in the west and north of South America, on the islands of Trinidad and Jamaica. They feed on insects in the same way as other species of centipedes, but there are known cases of giant centipedes attacking lizards, toads, mice and even birds.

The strongly built body consists of 21-23 segments of brown or red color with a pair of bright yellow legs. Poisonous jaws can cause harm to a person in the form of swelling, redness and severe pain, and occasionally fever, weakness and fever. For an adult, the venom of the giant scolopendra is not fatal. The poison consists of the following substances: contains acetylcholine, serotonin, histamine, lecithin, thermolysins, hyaluronidases.

Ringed scolopendra (Crimean)

The ringed scolopendra is the most common species of centipede in Southern Europe and the countries of the Mediterranean basin, including Italy, Spain, France, Turkey, Greece, and Crimea. He also lives in Northern Africa: Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco.

It is inferior in size to the giant centipede, reaching an average of 10-15 cm. The venom of the ringed centipede is also not as toxic as that of its “big brother”. A very fast and agile predator, it hunts almost all living creatures that are smaller in size - insects, lizards.

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Chinese red scolopendra

The Chinese red scolopendra lives in eastern Asia and Australia. Unlike many other species of centipedes, it is less aggressive and more social, it can live in peace with its relatives in communities (most species of centipedes are solitary).

In Chinese medicine, this type of scolopendra is used to speed up the healing of skin diseases and injuries.

California scolopendra

The California scolopendra lives in arid areas of the United States and Mexico, although other scolopendra species prefer wetter habitats.

A bite from a California scolopendra or touching its legs when disturbed can cause minor harm to a person in the form of inflammation. There have even been cases of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure after being bitten by this centipede.

Scolopendra Lucas

Lucas's centipede, like the ringed one, lives in the southern part of Europe. Distinctive features are the heart-shaped head and rusty color. The harm from contact with it is identical to most other centipedes.

What happens if a flycatcher bites?

Most often, the flycatcher fails to bite through the skin, unless we are talking about delicate children's or very thin women's skin. If she does manage to pierce the skin and inject poison, the bite will feel similar to a bee sting, and the symptoms will also be redness, burning, itching. The flytrap venom is not dangerous for people; it can only cause harm if there is an individual intolerance or an allergic reaction.

The flycatcher may try to bite domestic animals, defending itself from them. As in the case of a person, she will hardly be able to bite through their skin. But even if this happens, its bite and poison will not entail negative changes in the condition of the pets.

Much more dangerous than flycatchers are centipedes, another type of centipede with which, out of ignorance, they are sometimes confused. Although the scolopendra bite is not fatal to humans (with the exception of tropical species of scolopendra), it is very painful and can cause severe swelling that does not subside for several days. Scolopendra venom is especially dangerous for small children and can kill a cat or other small animal.

[edit] Classification and taxonomy

For a long time, millipedes were considered as a class or superclass of the subphylum Tracheata

), into which insects were placed as a separate class or superclass.

A certain external similarity with polychaetes allowed some old zoologists to see in centipedes the descendants of onychophorans (hence their second name - prototracheal, that is, they are, as it were, the predecessors of tracheone-breathing animals), which they considered to be descended from polychaetes. Genetic studies, although they confirm the relationship of arthropods with onychophorans (however, the structure and embryonic development of onychophorans show that they are common with Tracheata

traits developed independently through convergent evolution), but rejected their origins in annelids.

Previously considered to be the closest relatives of insects, with which they were combined into the taxon Uniramia

(single-branched, according to the structure of the limbs) or
Atelocerata
(incomplete, according to the nature of the specialization of the head limbs). The last hypothesis has some confirmation from molecular biology data.

Nowadays, some authors believe that centipedes, although they belong to Mandibulata

together with crustaceans and insects, cannot be considered as the closest relatives of the latter.
Mandibulata
hypothesis ,
Myriapoda
is the sister taxon to
Pancrustacea
, a group including crustaceans and
Hexapoda
(insects and their close relatives).
Some scientists even remove millipedes from Mandibulata
and place them closer to
Chelicerata
. Most scientists are still of the opinion that centipedes are either a sister or paraphyletic group in relation to insects.

In the first case, the monophyly of the centipedes themselves is recognized. As synapomorphies, the specifically arranged secondary dissected upper jaws, or mandibles, the structure of which differs from the monolithic single-segmented mandibles of insects and crustaceans, as well as the indicated tendency to diplosegmentation, are indicated. But some signs indicate that diplosegments may also be present in insects ( Dimalata

).

In the 2nd case, centipedes are not recognized as a single, monophyletic group and are distributed among two groups of incomplete antennae - Monomalata

, in which the labiopods and
Collifera
, and
Dimalata
, in which the symphylos and insects are placed.

There are 4 classes of millipedes, the degree of relationship of which to each other is still a matter of debate:

• Labiopods (Chilopoda)
• Dipopods (Diplopoda)
• Pauropoda
• Symphyla

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 - nodule (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.

Subclass Labiopods Chilopoda

A large group (2800 species) of labiopods are represented by active predators, in contrast to all other millipedes, which feed on decaying or living parts of plants. The predation of labiopods is associated with the transformation of the first pair of their trunk legs into grasping jaws equipped with a poisonous gland.

Labiopods, like all centipedes, lead a predominantly secretive nocturnal lifestyle. During the day, you should look for them under fallen leaves and stones, in hollows and under the bark of dead trees, etc. A small (up to 3.2 cm in length) centipede drupe (Lithobius forficatus) is common in our fauna. She has 16 pairs of legs, of which the hind ones are greatly elongated and perform a tactile function. There are rather long antennae on the head.

In the Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia, small centipedes with very long limbs, called flycatchers, are found in human habitations (houses). Eyeless centipedes geophiles with a very large number of segments (more than 170) live in the soil, sometimes deep from the surface. Geophilus longicornis is common in our fauna.

The largest of the labiopods, the poisonous centipedes, are widely represented in the tropics. In the Crimea, the Caucasus and Moldova, the ringed scolopendra (Scolopendra cingulata) is found, reaching a length of 10-17 cm. Its bite causes not only severe swelling in humans, but also general poisoning. The temperature rises to 38-39°C, general weakness and headache are observed. However, all painful phenomena go away on their own after 1-2 days. The bite of the Brazilian giant scolopendra (S. gigas) also does not appear to be fatal.

Description

centipedes have a rounded or flattened head, having a pair of antennae at the leading edge. They have a pair of elongated lower jaws and two pairs of upper jaws. The first pair of upper jaws forms the lower lip and has short tentacles. The first pair of limbs extends forward from the body to cover the remainder of the mouth. These limbs, or maxillipeds, end in sharp claws and include venom glands that help the animal kill or paralyze its prey.

Centipedes possess a variable number of ocelli, which sometimes cluster together to form true compound eyes. Despite this, it seems that centipedes are only capable of insight, light and dark, rather than true vision. Indeed, many species lack eyes in general. In some varieties, the first pair of legs in the centipede's head ganglion act as sensory organs similar to antennae, but unlike the antennae of most other animals, they point backwards. An unusual sensing organ found in some groups are the Tömösváry organs. They are located at the base of the antennae and consist of a disc-like structure with a central pore surrounded by sensory neurons. They are probably used to sense vibrations and may even provide hearing.

Forcipules are a characteristic feature found only in millipedes and no other arthropods. forcipules are modifications of the first pair of legs, forming a tweezer-like appendage always found just behind the head. Forcipules are not true mouthparts, although they are used in capturing prey items by injecting poison and holding on to captured prey. Venom glands run down the tube almost to the tip of each forcipule.

Behind the head, the body consists of fifteen or more segments. Most segments have a single pair of legs with maxillipeds projecting forward from the first body segment and the final two segments being small and legless. Each pair of legs is immediately slightly longer than the pair in front of it, ensuring that they do not overlap, and therefore reducing the chance that they will collide with each other when moving quickly. In extreme cases, the last pair of legs may be twice the length of the first pair. The final segment has a telson and includes the opening of the genital organs.

Centipedes are predators, and primarily use their antennae to search for their prey. The digestive tract forms a simple tube with digestive glands attached to the mouthparts. Like insects, centipedes breathe through a tracheal system, usually with a single opening or ventilator on each body segment. They excrete waste through a single pair of malpighian tubes.

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Scolopendra gigantea

, also known as the Amazonian giant centipede, is the largest extant centipede species in the world, stretching out in length. It is known to eat lizards, frogs, birds, mice, and even bats, catching them in midflight, as well as rodents and spiders.

Centipedes in the house: a scary neighborhood

Centipedes often appear in the house. They come to a person’s home in search of food: cockroaches, bedbugs, fleas, moths. The need for moisture forces people to live in the basement, bathroom, or basement. To hunt, centipedes can crawl out of their hiding places into other rooms. A centipede bite is usually not dangerous. The exception is poisonous species living in regions with warm climates. In temperate latitudes, there are individuals that are unable to bite through human skin. Moreover, arthropods cannot be called aggressive creatures that attack people. On the contrary, very often when large animals, and especially humans, appear, they hurry to retreat.

But still, the inhabitants of the premises in which these creatures have appeared often begin to look for ways to get rid of the centipede at home. This is mainly due to disgust and disgust for 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 house centipede that 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, you can install a mosquito net on them, and then periodically treat it with insecticides.

It is important to remember that the centipede does not live in dry areas. Therefore, if a faucet is leaking 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 dealt with.

Chemical insect control agents

There are no specific drugs to combat the millipede. You can use universal insecticides against it:

• the well-known “Dichlorvos”;
• aerosol "Raid";
• gel against cockroaches "Great Warrior"
• "Medilis-Ziper" is a toxic, but very effective remedy.

But it is useless to use sticky traps - only a few legs will remain on them, which will be a minor loss for the centipede.

The only harm that a centipede brings to the house is the psychological discomfort of being in its proximity. To get rid of it, you need to fight other insects and high humidity; and also use special insecticidal agents.

TOP 10 chemicals from centipedes

The use of chemicals in a private home is extremely effective. But if you have small children or other animals living with you, it is better to prevent them from being in the treated premises during the period of centipede poisoning.

No. 1. Spray "Henkel Combat"

Tool No. 1 in the fight against insects. The aerosol quickly penetrates into cracks, under the bathtub, into spaces between walls and pipes, as well as ventilation shafts. Before use, be sure to read the manufacturer's recommendations. Be prepared for the composition to smell sharp. The cost is about 300-360 rubles.

No. 2. Insect repellent "Lambda Zone"

In search of a solution to how to get rid of centipedes with chemicals, it makes sense to consider using the Lambda Zone product in a private home. The price is 670 rubles, it lasts a long time, there is no smell, the effectiveness is confirmed by numerous reviews. Due to the inclusion of lambda-cyhalothrin, the composition is considered safe for pets and people.

No. 3. Aquafumigator "Raptor"

It is 100% effective, all reviews confirm this. It consists of a fumigator and a water compartment. When the liquid is poured, it begins to evaporate. Steam envelops the room. During the procedure, remove all animals from the room, including fish and rodents. In addition to killing the centipedes, you will also kill flies, cockroaches, spiders and other pests. The pricing policy varies between 400-460 rubles.

No. 4. Insect glue

There are many companies that produce glue. Refer to the products “Clean House”, “Rubit”, “Alt”, “Ecotrap”, etc. Some say that glue traps are ineffective. But if the base is applied in a thick layer in the habitats of centipedes, then they will not get out. The product costs between 100-300 rubles.

No. 5. Gel "GLOBOL"

Initially developed to combat ants and cockroaches. But people successfully use it to get rid of centipedes and are quite satisfied. The product does not smell. Before getting rid of centipedes with its help, the composition must be diluted with water and poured into a spray bottle. In a private house, baseboards and places where insects accumulate are sprayed.

No. 6. Aerosol "Raid"

Designed to control crawling and flying insects. One bottle is designed for a large treatment area. It smells like lavender, not toxic, but it’s still worth ventilating the room. Price - 170-200 rubles.

No. 7. "Medilis-Ziper"

An insecticide that requires the use of gloves and a protective mask. The solution must be poured into a spray bottle and then applied to the habitats of centipedes. The advantage is that the drug is harmless to pets. The cost starts from 160 rubles.

No. 8. Spray "Starex"

An effective and inexpensive remedy for cockroaches and other crawling/flying insects. Convenient to use when treating hard-to-reach places, crevices, as well as baseboards and areas near sewers. The pricing policy ranges from 250-350 rubles.

No. 9. Avalon product

Used by professional disinfectors. Allows you to destroy bedbugs, cockroaches, ants and centipedes, among others. One package is enough for 60 m2, the price is 700 rubles.

No. 10. "Dichlorvos Neo"

This drug is an improved version of a familiar drug. The smell of the aerosol does not appear in any way. Special particles have a fatal effect on pests. From the moment the room is treated, the product continues to work for another half month. Price - from 65 rubles.

Classification of centipedes

Phylogeny of centipedes (after Kluge, 2000).

In accordance with the monophyly hypothesis of centipedes, the four classes are grouped as follows. The labiopods stand somewhat apart from the other three classes that form the group Progoneata.

All Progoneata are characterized by a number of specialized structural features (synapomorphies) that are unique to them. For example, the genital ducts open near the anterior end of the body; During the development of the embryo, the yolk ends up not in the intestine, but in the body cavity (later, yolk-rich cells form the fat body).

Within Progoneata, a monophyletic group is clearly distinguished Collifera,

including pauropods and bipeds.
A number of synapomorphies speak in favor of its monophyly: there are only two pairs of oral limbs (mandibles and gnathochilarium, which is a product of the fusion of the first pair of maxillae); the segment of the second pair of maxillae, unlike other centipedes, does not bear limbs and is not part of the head, forming a neck
(lat. collum); the genital openings are paired and are located behind the second pair of walking legs; larvae of the first instar have only three pairs of legs (one per segment); further development occurs with an increase in the number of segments that develop from the growth zone located behind the three segments of the larva.

• Chilopoda
• Progoneata: Symphyla
• Collifera: Pauropoda
• Diplopoda

Prevention

Prevention of centipedes:

• carry out regular cleaning;
• ensure that no puddles form near the pipes;
• make cosmetic repairs if necessary;
• do not litter the adjacent area;
• seal all holes and cracks in the walls to prevent unwanted neighbors.

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Centipede: description

The centipede got its name due to the fact that it has 15 pairs of legs, quite thin, which reach a length of up to 3 millimeters. The centipede grows up to 60 mm in length. Thanks to this, the insect moves relatively quickly - up to 40 cm per second, which gives it the opportunity to quickly go to cover in cases of danger.

If you carefully examine the insect, you can see small hairs all over the body, and long whiskers grow on the head. Along the entire surface of the body you can find stripes that even extend to the paws. Therefore, the centipede resembles a scary beetle with a flexible, elongated body. A centipede is born with 4 legs, the number of which increases as the insect matures. During her life, a female centipede lays up to 60 eggs.

Centipedes (also called flycatchers) prefer living conditions with high humidity and lack of light. In people's homes, flycatchers choose to live in rooms such as bathrooms, all kinds of closets or basements. As a rule, centipedes appear in human homes before the onset of winter. During this period, the centipede feeds on ants, mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, termites, spiders, etc. In other words, such a proximity between humans and centipedes is only beneficial for humans.

Those owners who know how the centipede lives and what it eats try to use it as a natural enemy of many insects, sometimes dangerous to humans. The flycatcher can sit motionless for a long time, waiting for its prey, after which it attacks its victim with lightning speed. This is achieved thanks to excellent vision and speed of movement. The flycatcher releases a venom that paralyzes its prey, after which it slowly eats its prey. If she manages to catch two insects at once, then she eats one and holds the other with her paws, since she has many of them.

Flycatchers (centipedes) do not bite humans or domestic animals. They also do not damage room furniture. Therefore, the fight against centipedes is carried out only because many owners do not know how this insect lives and what it eats. A centipede lives for about 7 years. It settles in human housing only to survive the cold. Upon completion, she moves to her natural habitat. When it is very cold, the insect hibernates. It is most active in the spring.

Preventive actions

To prevent a centipede from starting up in an apartment, you need to avoid excessive dampness and remember that the creature will not live in a dry room. To do this, the following preventive measures should be taken:

• systematic cleaning of “wet” rooms: bathroom and shower, thorough dry wiping of pipes and tiles;
• timely sealing of cracks and crevices in windows, on the floor, at the joints of water pipes;
• fighting insects in the house;
• destruction of mold in the apartment;
• Do not allow water to stagnate in the trays of flower pots;
• Periodically you need to ventilate and dry your home.

A centipede encountered in one's own apartment often terrifies people. An insect running quickly seems dangerous and aggressive. In fact, such statements have a basis. The centipede insect is a predator; it is indeed capable of attacking and biting, but not a person, but a fly or moth. She tries to avoid contact with people, hiding in hard-to-reach corners. If there is a clear threat, the centipede may bite; the insect's venom causes problems for people with allergies.