What is the difference in a centipede and a millipede?
Millipedes have two sets of legs per segment positioned directly under their body. Centipedes have one set of legs per segment positioned on the side of their body. Centipedes mostly eat insects after killing them with their venom. Millipedes feast on decomposing plants.
What is centipede venom made of?
Similar to other venoms, such as snake or scorpion, the venoms of centipedes are a natural pool of proteins, peptides and enzymes with a rich diversity of biological activities. Recent studies have indicated that venoms from a single centipede contain more than 500 proteins and peptides [11,12,13,14,15].
Is centipede poisonous?
All centipedes use venom to kill their prey. Centipede bites rarely cause health complications in humans, and aren’t typically dangerous or fatal. However, some centipedes have venom which produces a variety of toxins, including chemicals such as histamine, serotonin, and cardio-depressant toxin-S.
Do centipedes have eyes?
While some centipedes have compound eyes containing as many as 200 optical units, others do not have eyes. All centipedes have very poor eyesight and track their prey through the use of touch and smell.
Do centipedes have 2 heads?
Centipede bodies are made up of six head segments (three of which are mouthparts), a pair of poisonous maxillipeds (“foot jaws”), a variously numbered series of truck-bearing leg segments, and two genital segments.
What happens when a centipede goes in your ear?
The most common complication from an insect in the ear is a ruptured tympanic membrane, or ruptured eardrum. If the bug bites or scratches the eardrum, it’s possible that this trauma to the ear affects the eardrum. If this happens, you’ll feel pain and typically see bloody discharge coming from the eardrum.
What should I do if a centipede bites me?
Treatment of minor centipede bites is straightforward and includes:
- Irrigating the site to reduce the risk of infection.
- Apply ice packs as the cold elevates the pain threshold, impedes nerve conduction, and vasoconstricts vessels to prevent tissue edema.