This year Texan's are facing more millipedes and centipedes than usual. This is due in part to getting more rain this time of the year.

 

These critters are often confused with insects but in reality are arthropods, meaning they are more closely related to crawfish than roaches. Their name is derived from Latin meaning one-thousand feet. Interesting there is no known species of millipede with one-thousand legs. The species with the most legs 750 is known as Illacme plenipes.

 

Millipedes are virtually harmless and often roll up as a form of defense. Under stress millipedes are capable of omitting or spraying a mild acidic toxin that causes some irritation if it comes in contact with a person's skin, this phenomenon is more readily observable with the larger varieties of the species.

 

Centipedes the relatives of millipedes also have a Latin origin with their name meaning 100 feet. Although there are no known species with one-hundred legs. Unlike millipedes, centipedes could be dangerous as they are capable of injecting a toxin into their victims with special front legs that act as fangs or pinchers. The leg-fangs are known as forcipules and are deadly to the insects and other prey they hunt. In humans, the vast amount of the smaller varieties of centipedes only cause a local painful reaction around the bite area. While some of the larger species have been known to inflict extreme pain when they “bite” people with their forcipules.

 

 

 

Nacogdoches County Extension Agent Ricky Thompson

 

 

Nacogdoches County Texas & AM Agri-Life Extension Agent Ricky Thompson informed of the different varieties of poison that are more likely to kill off these abominable arthropods.

 

 

Sources:

 

Photo Credits:

Centipede with eggs - PageBD.com

Millipeged png file - KISSPNG

Blue Background - benishop.co

Ricky Thompson - Justin Mott

Video Credits:

Arizona Millipede - CCR Zone's youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1EoqK06grI

Mad Texas Centipede - Dabcorn Popper's youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvnPxVP_spI

Marco of Ant - duncantakeru's youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBbhbw9dS8Y

Music Credits:

Background Music - AShamaluevMusic's youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcAX2cbsdRw

Bugging You - original smilepop.com, download source youtube