Centipedes: Myths & realities

They're surely one of the most dangerous arthropods in the world. When the suddenly crawl beside you, you can't resist yourself to jump up from your place. What makes them so dangerous, is it their appearance, or something more? What are the realities and myths about them? In this page, we're going to discuss about it. 

They're big "insects" with "100 legs". Is it true? 

No! It's not true. 

First, centipedes aren't insects. 

Insects are of, Phylum: Arthropoda, Subphylum: Hexapoda, Class: Insecta. And Centipedes are of Phylum: Arthropoda, Subphylum: Myriapoda, Class: Chilopoda. 

All insects have Six legs (no more and no less, untill some legs are broken). We all know centipedes have many more legs. 

So, centipedes aren't insects. 

Second, Centipede doesn't possess 100 legs. The number of legs are always in pair of odd number between 15-177 pairs. Though the name "Centipede" means "100 legs", it never possess exact 100 legs.

Centipede's venom can kill human. Is it true? 

No, that's not true also. 

They're indeed venomous, but the venom is not enough poisonous to kill a human. It is to kill small creatures. But sting of big centipedes like Giant Desert Centipede can cause severe pain to the affected area and the pain may exist for several days along with swallowing of the part. Near every centipede's bite is painful. But it may be cured by home treatments. Although the venom can't kill human. A person with allergy towards centipede's venom may need hospitalization.

Generally, centipedes like to avoid humans.

Read: Can bees kill human?

Centipedes have poisonous "teeth".

It's also not true at all. 

The legs, most near to their head are hollow and packed with venoms. This modified legs are called Toxicognaths which are used to hold and kill prey. These aren't actually any teeth inside their mouth. These are modified legs.

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One of the biggest and creepiest known Centipedes are :

Amazonian Giant Centipede, 

Giant Desert Centipede, 

Scolopendra cataracta (the first known amphibious centipede) etc. 

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