A Red Centipede - I Bite

You have just overturned a rotting pine log and peered anxiously along the indented ground in search for a ground beetle or possibly even a snake. Instead you see a lovely red centipede that quickly scurries and hides beneath a leaf. You have the following choices:

1. Pick it up with your bare hands
2. Leave it alone
3. Scream like a little girl

If you chose any answer, other than #1, then you chose wisely. (However, answer #3 is only appropropriate, if, in fact, you are a little girl.) Before you pick up a centipede, any centipede, you should be aware of the following: centipedes bite. And are venomous. You have been warned.

The Red Centipede's scientific name is Scolopocryptops sexspinosus. Really. Scolopocryptops sexspinosus. I am almost sure that that was a spell that Harry Potter used in one of his books. If not, it should be. "Scolopocryptops sexspinosus," Harry yelled as he waved his wand at Professor Snape. Nothing happened. "Mr. Potter," Professor Snape coldly replied, "If you had actually studied your spell book- you would have read that the Red Centipede spell only works when one is geographically located in the Eastern United States. 10 points from Griffendor."

I think that Professor Snape would be familiar with the Red Centipede. According to a University of Kentucky Entomology department web site entry: Centipedes are used as ingredients in treatments for malaria and snakebites in some cultures. "Ma'am," the witch doctor said, "I've got some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the snakebite didn't kill your son. The bad news is that the mashed centipede concoction that I made, did. You do have Blue Cross and Blue Shield insurance, don't you? Please see my receptionist on your way out and leave your co-pay of 1 chicken head."

Its scientific name of Scolopocryptops means "dead eyes." As you may therefore surmise, the Red Centipede doesn't have eyes. It doesn't need them. The Red Centipede lives its life in the dark beneath rocks and logs searching for its favorite food- earthworms.

The Red Centipede is also the MOST common centipede in the eastern half of the United States. But remember, they bite. As a public service, I would like for you to consider the following experiences by NA Harvey, the author of the book Introduction to the Study of Zoology for Use in High Schools and Academies:

The centipede is a very active and a very vicious little creature'. The usual
way of catching one is to seize it quickly with the fingers as soon as the stone
is turned over. In such a case, the centipede tries to bite, and frequently
succeeds. No poisonous effects, however, have ever been experienced by the
writer, who must have been bitten a hundred times.

You want to raise one as a pet? In the I Love the Web department- here is a message board entry describing breeding and raising these centipedes as pets: http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/archive/index.php/t-57312.html.

Aqualandpetsplus.com also has a page on raising Centipedes as pets- including these warnings: "Handling? Don’t be stupid. Red-headed centipedes will never be found in a petting zoo. They bite – every time." and Tameable: "NO. You can’t train a centipede."

But remember, centipedes bite. Consider yourself warned.