Multicolored Centipede

bugman

March 29th, 2009 at 9:46 am

Categories

Centipedes

blue green centipede
Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 5:22 PM
I caught this wonderfull little guy in El Dorado Hills California while on a job. I have had him/her for nearly a year and feed it tiny crickets. Just buying more when i notice no more crickets in the cage,
I think it is a giant centipede but have not been able to find one of similar color that should be living in this part of the world.
Ryan
El Dorado Hills, California, USA

Multicolored Centipede

Hi Ryan,
Though El Dorado Hills is several hundred miles north of Los Angeles, we believe your beautiful centipede is a Multicolored Centipede, Scolopendra polymorpha. Here is what Charles Hogue writes in Insects of the Los Angeles Basin: “This is a fairly large enctipede, attaining a maximum length of 3 to 4 inches (7 to 10 cm). It varies in color from clear or dark olive yellow to greenish brown; the rear borders of the back plates are mostly dark green. Practically nothing is known about its biology, other than that its general habitat is the same as for most centipedes – secluded places in contact with logs, rocks or the ground. The bite of this species may be painful. Although there are no data on the effects of its poison on humans, it is probably harmless. Contrary to popular belief, the sharp claws on the legs are not poisonous. although the last pair of legs is capable of pinching.” BugGuide reports this species from several western states and has numerous photos that look very much like your specimen.