High Elevation Gardening Web Log "Blog"

Centipedes sporadically occur north of the Arctic Circle, inhabit all sub arctic environments, including ours, and are abundant in desert environments where they are one of the most commonly recognized terrestrial invertebrates. Peterson’s Field Guide to Venomous Animals & Poisonous Plants reports that North America is host to hundreds of species of centipedes, ranging in colors from bright red and orange to olive brown. They’re sized from an inch to a foot. All are flat-bodied, segmented, and carry one pair of legs per segment. As these animals grow, they add segments and legs. The record number of legs, as cited on www.nadiplochilo.com, is 382 legs (191 pairs) on Gonibregmatus plurimipes, occurring in Fiji in the Pacific Ocean.

Centipedes are cunning predators, dining on other invertebrates such as insects and spiders under cover of darkness. The larger species eat small mammals, snakes, frogs, toads, and birds. Most centipedes are built for speed and are structured to minimize a swaying motion, often associated with segmentation, such as a train or a semi and trailer. They shorten and stiffen their bodies. Biologists call it tergite heteronomy.

Some may wonder if we are still lucky enough to have these leggy beasts in our gardens after our recent snows and freezes which we fear may have done them in. Amazingly, they thrive in our four-season climate. Centipedes, Scolopendra polymorpha, have many color combinations, the word polymorpha being Latin for many forms. This species has occurred throughout the world and on the Colorado Plateau as rusty brown or redwood in color. They’re usually one to four inches long. Typically secretive, when disturbed from under their habitat of wood, rock, leaf, or other debris, they rapidly flick their front antennae as they race for cover.

Wearing gloves may be wise when gardening. Although centipedes aren’t aggressive, they’re poisonous, and not only poisonous, they have specialized claws for injecting the venom. Of course, the larger the centipede the more serious is the bite. For most people a bite generates a localized skin irritation, but for an unfortunate few who are sensitive to foreign protein, it can mean a trip for medical care.

Centipedes, in spite of their daunting exterior and lightning fast movements, are beneficial to our gardens. They prey on pests and insects in the soil including beetle larvae and fly pupae. Although we generally don’t have to encourage them to take up residence, low-till gardening can maintain populations of centipedes. Admirable from a distance, these creatures are amazing agile. Not only that, they’re survivors, having been around for a long time. They’ve left evidence of their presence in the fossil records of the Cretaceous period.

Gloves or not, useful or not, on a scale of 1 to 10, these amazing creatures are a 10 on the scale of “Yikes.”

Freddi Steele is a Master Gardener volunteer. Dana Prom Smith is a Master Gardener volunteer and the coordinating editor for the Master Gardener Column. He can be contacted at stpauls@npgcable.com. For more information about the Master Gardener Program, call Hattie Braun at 774-1868 ext.17 or visit our Web Site: highelevationgardening.arizona.edu.