What on earth is THIS?!

[Fyreflye]

I found it at work, scurrying down a hallway. It somewhat resembles a mutated cricket, but lacks any hopping abilities. I'm assuming it's native to the area (NE Oklahoma), but i've never seen anything like this before!

 

[skippy]

house centipede: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scutigera_coleoptrata

pretty cool critters

 

[cacoseraph]

those are the freaks of the centipede world


they are the only order to have compound eyes, a single dorsally mounted spiracle (breathing tube), and highly articulated "feet"


i got to play with a giant exotic specimen before. it was sweet. i am sort of disappointed it didn't bite me, though


also, iirc they are born with 7 pairs of legs and gain a pair or two each molt until they have er... 13 (i think)

 

[skippy]

wiki said 15 but it is wiki so...

how big was that exotic specimen?

 

[Fyreflye]

Very cool, indeed! My first thought when i saw it was centipede?, but it didn't look like any centipede i'd ever seen, so i abandoned that thought. Personally, i've always found millipedes to be more attractive, but i think i'll have to set up a permanent home for this little guy.

 

[cacoseraph]

wiki said 15 but it is wiki so...

how big was that exotic specimen?

actually, i don't think any species have 13 as adults, 15 sounds better






it was like ~2.5"BL and probably around 6-7" with all those appendages. it made me kind of dizzy watching it run around on my hands. i think www.insectgeeks.com guy let me play with his at a www.SFBATS.org event (apologies if i misremembered)

 

[skippy]

i wish i had made it to that meeting:clap: i've been on the lookout for a big one for sale for a little while now but haven't seen any

they are too[/B freaking cool:}

 

[cacoseraph]

i see specimens that top 1"BL from time to time... but that is nothing compared to the giant exotics



just about everyone that i know had all their giant exotics die, though :/ including ppl who actually had CH babies :/ :/ :/

 

[baboon man8]

Very cool, indeed! My first thought when i saw it was centipede?, but it didn't look like any centipede i'd ever seen, so i abandoned that thought. Personally, i've always found millipedes to be more attractive, but i think i'll have to set up a permanent home for this little guy.

WAIT WAIT WAIT those can be good for keeping?!?if so tell me tell me how to setup a permanent home. they roam new jersey. they are more active at night around my house. lol

 

[Scythemantis]

I'd give anything to own and breed the giant varieties...but I miss out on them whenever they're offered, and now I live in a state where everything is restricted!

I've tried to keep the little ones alive and even when they eat well they seem to just drop dead...

 

[Fyreflye]

WAIT WAIT WAIT those can be good for keeping?!?if so tell me tell me how to setup a permanent home. they roam new jersey. they are more active at night around my house. lol

Well, i think MOST insects can be kept as long as their specific environmental and dietary needs are met. From what i've read they would do best in an environment that is dark and damp, but not too cold. I don't know that they are any good for handling, but i'm more into just observing my insects anyway.

 

[Caramell]

*shudders*
I find those things in my house from time to time.
Honestly, every time I do, I can't sleep.

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

also, iirc they are born with 7 pairs of legs and gain a pair or two each molt ...(i think)

They start out with four pair, every one after that is odd.

 

[cacoseraph]

I'd give anything to own and breed the giant varieties...but I miss out on them whenever they're offered, and now I live in a state where everything is restricted!

I've tried to keep the little ones alive and even when they eat well they seem to just drop dead...

i suspect they need a bit more vent than other centipedes. i've had the local specimens stay alive until i forgot to feed them for too long

 

[fantasticp]

I've tried to keep the little ones alive and even when they eat well they seem to just drop dead...

Keep them very cool and moist. I kept mine in a wine fridge. Mist frequently.

 

[Tarantula_Chick]

*shudders*
I find those things in my house from time to time.
Honestly, every time I do, I can't sleep.

I agree with you, just seeing the picture made me creep out. My thing is if there's more than 8 legs I get a creepy feeling and want to be a complete girl and run away.

 

[Travis K]

I have kept them and they eat really good, they are pretty easy to sex as well if you have a SHARP eye and or good magnification. They desicate faster than you say desicate though, thats what happened to my male and female.

 

[Digby Rigby]

Feeders

They breed easily and make fun feeders.

Digby Rigby balboa28279@mypacks.net

 

[MrRogers]

I used to find big ones in my parents house all the time, in the basement and in the cold celler.

One fell from the ceiling and landed on my neck once. I've been creeped out by them ever since.

 

[zonbonzovi]

i remember reading that they can be kept communally true/untrue?