Karawynn Long 🦊✍🏻🏳️‍🌈😷♿May 17, 2023

Is there anyone out there who can answer a couple of questions (one real-world, one speculative) for me about centipedes? I have googled the hell out of this but can find no clear answer.

Boosts for visibility appreciated.

#arthropods #myriapods #entomology #arachnids

(I know they're not insects or arachnids but I'm reaching here)

Show threadBen SMay 17, 2023
@karawynn It might help to know the questions. I have a few people I might be able to ask.
Show threadKarawynn Long 🦊✍🏻🏳️‍🌈😷♿May 17, 2023

@twizzt @nev

The first question is whether centipedes a) can and b) do ever 'rear up' like a snake, either in a threat display or prior to striking something above ground level. (Illustrations of centipedes often show this pose, but I haven't found textual or photographic indication that it's a real thing. I've seen photos of *millipedes* rearing up like that, but idk if that's relevant or if centipede physiology doesn't allow for it.)

Show threadBen SMay 17, 2023
@karawynn @nev I'm not really the best person to answer, but yes, they can rear up at least a little. If you touch their back ends, they will occasionally rise up and curl backwards. So they can at least lift themselves a little. I have seen them walk a short way along the edge of something then rise up and pivot to start climbing. I doubt they would strike anything too far above them. I've only seen it as a defensive posture or locomotory function. I study wasps though...
Show threadneville parkMay 18, 2023
@twizzt @karawynn Anecdotally, I've seen the house centipede "rear up" but, like, horizontally, when on a flat surface at a right angle to the ground, to catch prey on a parallel surface. She kind of curls her front half around her prey. However, am not a centipedologist or whatever they're called.
Show threadBen S
@nev @karawynn they are so unexpectedly fast, its hard to process what you actually saw.
May 18, 2023 at 1:22amWeb