Posted on 07/02/2015 4:40:04 PM PDT by aMorePerfectUnion
TEXAS -- A giant redheaded centipede was found crawling on a broom in a park in Texas.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department posted a photo of the insect on Twitter. The centipede was discovered at Garner State Park in Uvalde County in the Hill Country.
This is one scary looking insect. In the wild, it can grow to be 8 inches long with a brightly colored body and legs. Officials at the University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum describe this species of centipede as "fast moving and aggressive titans."
The giant redheaded centipede is a predator that primarily feeds on things like moths, butterflies, spiders and other insects. They have also been known to eat larger animals such as toads, lizards, small snakes and other vertebrates.
The centipede captures its prey with its claws and then stuns and poisons them by piercing the skin and injecting a painful toxin.
The good news? This centipede isn't a huge threat to humans. They will give you a painful sting which can lead to dizziness, nausea and headaches.
This species of centipede is found in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona.
OMG Is that Kathy Griffen? or whatever her name is. If that is her - WHOA!!! She looks so dead without her makeup.
I used to kill those in my home in Ohio. Nasty things. All over the place here in Texas. Don’t get why this is news.
Thank you! Much scarier than the bug!
Someone imported the Japanese mukade.
Looks like love at first sight.
I don’t think I would let Laz hit that,,,too scary..........
It is the only way you can really be sure.
I saw a giant one crawling through my campsite near Oolagah, Oklahoma, maybe 30 years ago. I sprayed it with insecticide and it did kill it tho it took a while.
Mine was just about exactly a foot long probably about the same length as the one pictured but it was much heavier. Each segment was about the size of a quarter. I think the whole thing was rust colored. It did have huge pincers.
I was actually talking to my Daughter about it a few months ago. She was around 8 at the time but she remembers it.
Fascinating! Can you recommend a good portable light for spotting them?
I used to use a 100ft dropcord and drag it around the yard with a blacklight when I lived in scorpion country. Now I live in centipede country and would love to have a good light for hunting them without the dropcord.
Looks like it has an Adam’s apple as well, goes with the trans-everything these days I guess. Can’t tell the players without a program.
The ones in SE Asia would give you more than a sting.
I consider my self somewhat tough, but if I came across that thing I think I would.. RUN !!!!!!! That’s in the same creepy league as the dreaded POTATO BUGGGGG...
Potato Bug (Jerusalem cricket)
Carrot Top. LOL! He is funny as heck though. Dude cracks me up.. He’s made a FORTUNE doing Vegas shows. Quite successful he is.
Yipes!
In Fallon Nevada I had a tarantula run out from under my refrigerator. Black widows....I learned to always check my shoes before I put them on.
Why did I look at this post. I'm going to have nightmares tonight.
http://www.ultraviolet-tools.com/ultraviolet-lamps-field/cat_5.html
When I was on this search a few months back it was the first I ever heard about hunting for scorpions with a blacklight.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.