I thought about him as I sat down, barefoot as usual, at the computer table the other morning. I caught a little glimpse of something underneath just where I was about to put my feet and figured that it was time to put on my glasses. Was that a lizard tail? Part of a snake?
Nope. It was this guy.
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| He had already passed away when I found him and was toes up |
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| I flipped him over; he was about 5 inches long |
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| I'm afraid he had picked up a few cat hairs in his final battle I believe that he was a common (I hope not too common) desert centipede. According to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum website these creatures have bites that are painful, but not poisonous. Just in case my cats plan to make a habit of bringing these fellows into the house, I will be wearing shoes from now on whenever my feet are somewhere that I can't keep an eye on them. |
13 comments:
Centipedes have always given me the creeps! Great crisp photos, though... what camera are you using?
Becky, thank you for the "crisp photos" comment. It is such a struggle for me to take pix that are in focus. These days I am mostly using my little Canon PowerShot (SD1300 IS, to be exact). Since getting it, I'm afraid I've left the big Canon (Rebel XT) mostly in the camera bag.
And I am wearing my glasses, which helps a lot!
What a cute story and great pictures! Since you live in the desert, don't forget to check inside your shoes for scorpions before putting them on. :D
Oh, yes, Diane, I always shake out my shoes before putting them on. Now I pull back the sheets and examine what might be in bed with me, too, LOL!
EEEEK! Right now here it is earwigs which I do NOT like. They get into everything; the mop, your wash clothes, your underwear... shiver.
Christine, earwigs would be a big problem for me. When I was a child in San Francisco I saw an earwig on the sofa and never sat there again. What would I be forced to do if I found earwigs in the underwear???? ;)
We see these 2-3 times a year - after a heavy rain - usually. About 8 years ago I witnessed a man being bit by one of these (but much bitter). We were standing in a group waiting for a ranger to give an intro talk before going into Carlsbad Caverns. The centipede came out of the rocks and bit this man on the hand - it was as big as a snake, we saw it run along the rocks after it bit him. Even after being bit, he continued on the trek into the caves. They are interesting creatures!
Eeeewwwwwww! Wouldn't want a run in with him in
the dark...or in the toe of my shoes! Must be bug week in blogland...
In 18 years out there, I never saw a live one, but I saw traces, and I think there are more on your side of the mountains. My dad used to talk about seeing them when he attended NTSU.
Experienced a vinegaroon yet? I remember my calm grandmother almost screaming when she found one in the kitchen. She coached me as I very gently ("don't scare it! don't scare it!") shooed it through the dining room, the living room, and out the front door. That would be a worthy smell challenge for fabreze.
BTW, I had to exit your post and Google earwigs. To my surprise, I have seen them outside, but so occasionally I didn't even know what they were. Cockroaches and water bugs, now.... Interesting. Every place has its pests, doesn't it?
I couldn't take it. :<)
Creepy crawlies
*shiver* Those things give me the creeps.
They get into our house sometimes, too. But our indoor cats kill and eat 'em! Yeah!
Awesome macros.....albeit a little scary!
~Lisa
ps the header photo is gorgeous!
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