With long and graspy legs, nasty jaw-like mandibles and modified appendages through which they inject their prey with venom, these house centipedes look like the epitome of all that’s evil and dangerous in the wilderness at night.
Yet they do no more harm to humans than the average spider – if they do bite at all. Most just scuttle off into the undergrowth at the slightest hint of disturbance. One individual was most cooperative as we four photographers manoeuvred into position around it. It was so still that one of us made a remark along the lines of, “It wouldn’t be surprising if it was actually already dead and suddenly just dropped to the ground!”
Such close encounters are rare; and we made the most of this opportunity to capture whatever we could of this ‘pede as the clocks tick-tocked closer towards midnight.
More photos from the night here.
on Feb 8th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
if two legs are bad
and four legs good, does it mean
this beast is better?