learned something about american giant millipedes tonight...

[bhamgreg]

don't play with them. i have a swollen eye from itching and a brown stain on my hand.

 

[bhamgreg]

heres a picture of my specimen I have since released.

 

[Widowman10]

hahaha, i learned (or re-learned i should say) this fact the hard way. i just grabbed and picked up a very nice 4" milli a few months ago. forgot they sprayed acid :8o i thought it was just smelly stuff until it didn't wash off! haha, my hands were stained (or burned) for a few weeks. made for a good story though when people asked!!

 

[Widowman10]

i have a swollen eye from itching and a brown stain on my hand.

hydrocyanic acid. that's what it's called

 

[RoachGirlRen]

Just be glad you didn't grab one of the species that secretes cyanide when threatened!

I love my N. americanus, but I do have purple, blotchy hands all the time as a result.

 

[BestRoach]

Acid? I thought these guys could be handled. Holly crap, thats scary!

 

[bhamgreg]

actually i foudn out the american species does not spray acid but instead squirt
a noxious liquid that contains large amounts of benzoquinones

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narceus_americanus

"There have also been claims that rather than releasing benzoquinone, this North American millipede releases hydrogen cyanide; however, this is simply not true"

 

[Widowman10]

actually i foudn out the american species does not spray acid but instead squirt
a noxious liquid that contains large amounts of benzoquinones

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narceus_americanus

"There have also been claims that rather than releasing benzoquinone, this North American millipede releases hydrogen cyanide; however, this is simply not true"

not saying you're wrong, but i'd like to see it referenced from somewhere other than wikipedia

 

[bhamgreg]

wiki could be wrong. just linking what i read. Its definantly been wrong about a few car related things i have looked up.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

I'd feel sorry for you if only you posted on the right board! :}

PS-Just kidding.

 

[bhamgreg]

ya i hat 2 windows open and posted the thread in the wrong one OOPS

 

[ShellsandScales]

You could rub it all over your body to ward off bugs and get some in you mouth and end up drunk like the lemurs do!! haha

 

[skips]

hydrocyanic acid is incredibly weak. I've had my hands stained, but it's not a burn. Maybe if you soaked in their spray for a few days you'd feel something, but its really not a problem. Just dont rub your eyes. Purple, really? now that's sweet.

Mom: What happened to you?
Son: I was accosted by a millipede...