Are vinegaroons centipede specialists?

Smokehound714

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They are built for crushing strong exoskeletons.

the main prey items of vinegaroons in the wild are Eleodes and Coelocnemis sp beetles. Probably also Orthoporus
 

DubiaW

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They are built for crushing strong exoskeletons.

the main prey items of vinegaroons in the wild are Eleodes and Coelocnemis sp beetles. Probably also Orthoporus
That makes more sense. I had to think about it for a second but the locals are the ones that have said they like spiders. Let them think that. In certain areas they look at them the same way they look at king snakes.
 

Scolopendra1989

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They are built for crushing strong exoskeletons.

the main prey items of vinegaroons in the wild are Eleodes and Coelocnemis sp beetles. Probably also Orthoporus
I would doubt Orthoporus unless vinegaroons have no problem with tough exoskeletons and secretions.
The thing is, I just doubt a vinegaroon could handle a large centipede given all the factors.
 

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Smokehound714

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I would doubt Orthoporus unless vinegaroons have no problem with tough exoskeletons and secretions.
The thing is, I just doubt a vinegaroon could handle a large centipede given all the factors.
I've seen video taken by a friend of one killing a large orthoporus. Cracked it open with ease. those chelae are extremely strong and are used for breaking open strong exoskeletons. their chelicerae are very narrow for extracting meat from hard shelled prey, kinda like having lobster forks for jaws
 

DubiaW

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Orthoporus and vinegaroons often share the same range. If vinegaroons have no problem with the chemical defense of Eleodes and Coelocnemis "stink beetles" then it seems really probable that they would go after Orthoporus too. Really easy prey if the predator is suited to eat them. I haven't witnessed it in the wild yet but it explains the freshly cracked Orthoporus I have seen every once and a while. Was the video a natural encounter?
 

Staehilomyces

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It wasn't a natural encounter, but nevertheless, it clearly targeted the millipede as opposed to lashing out defensively. In regards to giant centipedes, I feel as though something that can take down an emperor or Asian forest scorpion is not going to lose to a vinegaroon.
 

Godzillaalienfan1979

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Same as everyone else. I feel like it would depend on the initial advantage. If a Vinegaroon managed to snag the Centipede while it was passing by and get in a few shots of formic acid, it could eventually take it out. But I feel like this wouldn't happen, because Centipedes are really good at having their wits about them. Even if the Vinegaroon had the Centipede in its claws, fighting a Centipede is like fighting a snake wrapped in barbed wire, and it thrashes like a malfunctioning riot hose. Unless the Vinegaroon got in a few lucky acid shots and skooshed it with its chelicerae, this is a duel that I honestly couldn't see the Vinegaroon winning.

Dangit, now you've inspired me. Is it ok if I make a post like this except with different animals? I don't want to come across as liking animal cruelty or anything.
 

Lithobius

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I think if it was in the wild and the centipede thought the vinegaroon was too much of a challenge, it would run away, and I'm willing to bet the vinegaroon isn't fast enough to catch it, even if it injured a couple legs.
 

Godzillaalienfan1979

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I think if it was in the wild and the centipede thought the vinegaroon was too much of a challenge, it would run away, and I'm willing to bet the vinegaroon isn't fast enough to catch it, even if it injured a couple legs.
Oh heck yeah. There's no way a Vinegaroon could catch a sprinting Centipede.
 

Jurdon

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If a Vinegaroon managed to snag the Centipede while it was passing by and get in a few shots of formic acid, it could eventually take it out. But I feel like this wouldn't happen, because Centipedes are really good at having their wits about them.
I don’t believe a roon would spray a centipede when attempting to eat it. It’s a defensive mechanism, and if a centi were to induce it, the vinegaroon’s next step would definitely be to retreat. IMO, they seem to be more adapted to eating millipedes, considering their pedipalps dish out what I lightheartedly refer to as “crushing damage”. That, and they seem to prefer slower-moving prey.
 

Godzillaalienfan1979

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I don’t believe a roon would spray a centipede when attempting to eat it. It’s a defensive mechanism, and if a centi were to induce it, the vinegaroon’s next step would definitely be to retreat. IMO, they seem to be more adapted to eating millipedes, considering their pedipalps dish out what I lightheartedly refer to as “crushing damage”. That, and they seem to prefer slower-moving prey.
That's true, I feel like if the Centipede thought it was in a tight spot it would easily outmaneuver or outrun the slow, bumbling vinegaroon. I've actually seen a Vinegaroon eat a Millipede before, but keep in mind it was a small one. I feel like a giant Millipede would be more difficult, however, cause don't they ooze a toxin from their bodies in close quarters?
 

Jurdon

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I feel like a giant Millipede would be more difficult, however
Undoubtedly. Small-medium sized milli’s are far more reasonable. From personal experience, my M. giganteus is far more receptive to things like mealworms and mealworm beetles than softer-bodied prey like waxworms and crickets, and certainly a small millipede would be no problem for her.
 

dragonfire1577

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Vinegaroons will definitely eat large millipedes, there actually photos of it on google. Now I'm not sure larger centipedes and vinegaroons would even typically conflict, the vinegaroon would probably just do a threat pose and spray acetic acid on the centipedes very sensitive antennae and both would go their separate ways.
 

Nathan Zhang

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How would an adult vinegarron far against an adult polymorpha
I’ve seen warrior beetles dominate polymorphas
 

Godzillaalienfan1979

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I feel like Vinegaroons aren't really "specialists'' on anything. Because they're ambush hunters (and blind ones at that), they'd probably just bludgeon anything that moves within their feelers' range. Would they attack a centipede? If they found it, probably. Could they kill a centipede? Really depends on the species. Definitely not one of the larger scolopendra ones, a stripe-tail or tiger would be more reasonable.

So, to answer your question, probably not.
 
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