What’s a Tiger Centipede?
November 4th, 2009 Posted in Centipedes & Millipedes 
With over 8,000 species of centipedes worldwide, it’s very easy to be unaware of all the different kinds of centipedes. The tiger centipede is a commonly unheard species of centipede, but one certainly worth a second look.
Habitat
Formally known as the Scolopendra polymorpha, the tiger centipede is found throughout the southwestern part of the United States. It can be found anywhere from Oregon, Arizona, California, Northern Mexico, and many other states that border these regions.
Preferring arid areas of soil and foliage, this species of centipede can handle a wide range of temperatures. Thus, the centipede can survive in the fertile floor of a forest or the dry conditions of the desert. It is also sometimes referred to as the common desert centipede or the Sonoran desert centipede because of its ability to thrive in these dry and barren conditions.
Identifying Features
It is known as the tiger centipede because of the dark bands throughout its body. The polymorpha part of its scientific name is Latin for many forms.
This applies to the centipede because it comes in a wide variety of colors, thus relating back to it having many forms. These 5 inch long and flat-bodied creatures have 7 or more smooth segments on their bodies with one pair of legs per segment.
This feature is the difference between centipedes and millipedes anatomy. This species also have medium-sized antennae used to help them feel out their surroundings and help them identify their pray.
Adaptations
They have structures on their bodies known as gnathosomes or gnathopods that help inject venom into the bodies of their victims. These are basically little pincher appendages on the front of their many legs.
This is why you only feel a pinch if they were too bite you. An adaptation like this helps them feed their carnivore needs, specifically on insects, lizards, frogs, and rodents.
Another adaptation is the way in which the mother tiger centipede cares for its eggs. It coils its long body around its eggs and grooms them with its legs and abdomen.
They also do this to protect from mold and bacteria by rubbing their own bodily secretions on to the eggs. Once the young centipedes hatch, the mother will care for them for a few days and then leave them to fend for themselves.
Common Predators
Due to the various colors they come in, the centipede can both blend into its surroundings and at times stick out like a sore thumb. Normally able to seamlessly blend in with dirt or leaves, the centipede can avoid a predator’s attack. In other instances when the centipede is bright red or yellow, they do not easily blend into their surroundings.
Some predators that feed on the tiger centipede are owls, coyotes, bobcats, and badgers. Humans have also preyed upon centipedes numerous times, either indirectly through habitat destruction or directly by killing them as pests. Even though the tiger centipede is far from ever being threatened as a species, there is no need to kill them senselessly.
However, to ensure they do not become a pest in your home, use EcoSMART’s organic pesticides to help you and your family survive a centipede invasion, and still stay green.
