Crimean ringed centipede: what is the danger of meeting with her
People living in central Russia are accustomed to believing that large, poisonous insects and arthropods can only be found in countries with a hot, tropical climate. But, some dangerous representatives of the fauna do not live so far. This is confirmed by the famous ringed, she is the Crimean centipede.
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What does the Crimean centipede look like?
Crimean centipede.
The Crimean centipede is a fairly large centipede. Her body is covered with a dense chitinous shell, which reliably protects the animal from enemies. The body shape is elongated and slightly flattened.
The color of the ringed scolopendra varies from light olive to dark brown. Numerous limbs stand out noticeably against the background of the body and are most often painted in bright yellow or orange. The body length of a centipede is on average about 10-15 cm, and in some cases it can reach 20 cm.
Habitat of ringed scolopendra
Ringed centipede, like other members of the family, prefers a warm climate. In addition to the Crimean Peninsula, this species is widely distributed in southern Europe and North Africa. You can meet the Crimean scolopendra in the following countries:
- Spain;
- Italy;
- France;
- Greece;
- Ukraine;
- Turkey;
- Egypt;
- Libya;
- Morocco;
- Tunisia.
The favorite habitats of centipedes are shady, damp places or rocky terrain. Most often, people find them under rocks or in the forest floor.
Why is the Crimean scolopendra dangerous for humans?
Consequences of a scolopendra bite.
This skolopendra does not boast the same toxic poison as larger tropical species, but this does not make it completely harmless. The poison and mucus that the Crimean centipede secretes can cause a lot of problems for a person.
As with other types of dangerous centipedes, skin contact and a bite from this animal can cause the following symptoms:
- redness on the skin;
- itching;
- swelling at the site of the bite;
- temperature increase;
- various manifestations of allergic reactions.
How to protect yourself from scolopendra
For people who are residents or guests of the southern regions and hot countries, you must adhere to several recommendations:
- When walking in the territory of the forest park zone or outside the city, you should wear only closed shoes and carefully look under your feet.
- You should not fumble with your bare hands in the foliage under the trees or turn over stones. In this way, it is possible to stumble upon a centipede and get bitten by it, as a defensive maneuver.
- Trying to pick up or touch a centipede without thick protective gloves is also not worth it.
- Before putting on shoes, clothes or going to bed, you need to carefully inspect things and bed linen for the presence of centipedes. Insects often crawl into residential buildings in search of food. At the same time, there are cases when scolopendra was found even in apartments of multi-storey buildings.
- Having found a centipede in the house, you can try to catch it with the help of some container with a lid. This should be done with tight gloves. At the same time, it makes no sense to try to crush it with a slipper like a cockroach, since its shell is very dense.
- Even after the intruder is caught, you should not relax. If the dwelling somehow attracted one centipede, then most likely others may come after it.
Conclusion
The Crimean centipede is not a dangerous pest and does not show any aggression towards a person for no particular reason. In order for a meeting with this centipede not to end in unpleasant consequences, you should follow the above tips, and be more careful and attentive when walking in nature.
