When you consider a centipede, the very image of a creepy crawly with hundreds of little feet in rows comes to mind.
The weirdest thing about the name centipede (from the Latin centum meaning hundred) is that they can have from 10 to 300 feet to walk around on. In fact, the name centipede simply means many-footed (centipeda).
They are interesting, to be sure, but if they are making an appearance in your garden, you may want to be cautious because they can have an unpleasant bite.
In this article we will explore what the role of the many legs have in a healthy garden.
So Why Do Centipedes Have so Many Legs?
Millipedes and pauropods belong to the family of myriapods, the primary differentiating characteristic of these arthropods, their many, many legs.
Their need for so many legs is because they are metameric organisms, meaning they have many similarly-shaped sections of their body, mostly arranged in a line.
In order for the centipede to move, each body section needs a pair of legs. The number of legs on the centipede is directly related to the number of body sections the particular species has.
Since most centipedes have 15 or more body sections, you can imagine how many there are!
As the centipede grows through a series of molts, it develops more and more body sections, and obviously, pairs of legs.
You can even use the number of legs the specific centipede has to help estimate the animal’s age, which could surprise you with the longevity.
Fun fact: Each pair of legs on a centipede is longer than the pair in front of it, and this has both practical and functional purposes, as it allows the animal to crawl forward without legs overlapping. The last pair of legs on a centipede is often at least twice the length of the first pair.
And Having so Many Legs to Hand, Is Helpful If a Centipede Becomes Injured or Predated
If a centipede loses limbs, they can regrow them instantly.
Their regeneration abilities do not extend to their central body parts or whole body segments.
Are You Encountering Centipedes in Your Garden?
There are over 8000 species of centipede around the world, so chances are, you will find them in your backyard.
Centipedes thrive in damp moist environments where there’s enough moisture to reduce the impact of dehydration. Most insects and spiders have a waterproof cuticle layer that occupiers of the Terrestrial Zone do not possess.
So, most likely, you will find them hidden under stones, within the cracks of logs or piles of damp leaf litter.
During the day, they will be well hidden in these areas, so if you disturb anything dark or damp in your garden, you should find them!
They also like the warmth provided by a greenhouse or glasshouse, with some species of centipede exclusively living in these environments.
Are Centipedes a Pest?
Should you discover a profusion of centipedes in your garden you might be worried about them harming your plants.
Centipedes are actually an indicator of a healthy garden. They are not pests of your plants.
Centipedes are unusually voracious carnivores and are helping to control slugs, wireworms and other soil organisms.
In your home, these active hunters will take care of unwanted pests like:
- silverfish
- cockroaches
- small spiders
- moths
- woodlice
They are highly effective predators of invertebrates that uses their antennae to capture their prey.
Their two front legs are hollow and specialized with claws in order to grasp, bite and inject venom into prey.
Fun Fact: They are also equipped with strong mouthparts that can clamp down on prey and suck their juices out of their simple digestive tract.
Millipedes Are the More Likely Culprit If Your Plants Are Getting Nibbled
If you observe a multi-legged organism preying on your tender shoots or soft fruit then this is most likely a millipede, munching on seedlings, cucumbers peas and tomatoes.
Spot the Difference Between Multi-legged Centipedes and Millipedes!
Even though both centipedes and millipedes have multiple legs and belong to the class of arthropods, telling them apart is easy.
In temperate climates such as the UK, centipedes are light brown or chestnut brown in colour.
Millipedes tend to be slightly more browny grey in colour and when touched will slowly move or curl in a ball.
In comparison, centipedes are quick movers and will quickly run away when exposed.
Also, millipedes have 2 pairs of legs per body segment, while centipedes only have 1 pair of legs per segment.
Though Centipedes Are Largely Beneficial Garden Residents, You Need to Beware of Their Nasty Bite!
No one wants to be on the receiving end of a centipede.
These creatures have venom, and their specially adapted front limbs, called toxicognaths (poison claws), can inflict a nasty bite that creates puncture wounds or blisters on humans.
The problem with centipede bites is that they inject venom into the wound.
This is really not going to be fatal to an adult human, but centipede bites can make young children quite sick.
Usually, the symptoms resolve in 24 hours, but it may take longer for more sensitive individuals or if the centipede was very large.
The symptoms of a centipede bite can include:
- Severe pain
- Swelling
- Redness around the bite
- Raised heart rate and chest discomfort
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache
Because of the Risks of Bites, You May Want to Keep the Numbers of Centipedes in Your Garden Down
Gardeners are at the mercy of bites from these little guys!
You can reduce your chances of being bitten by centipedes by simply preventing them from multiplying in your garden, back yard, greenhouse, etc.
Centipedes can be kept out of your garden by eliminating any moist, dark environments where they prefer to live and breed.
In addition to removing unwanted compost heaps, stones, mulch and leaves from your garden will help keep centipedes away without using pesticides and chemicals.
Rounding up
You’ll find these leggy invertebrates in a happy garden with plenty of insects and plants.
As long as you are not dealing with too many of them, it’s best not to disturb them as they only bite when they are disturbed or handled.