You may have encountered the tiger centipede once or twice, as you might have happened across some long-banded arthropod crawling under a rock or rushing along your baseboards. Due to its rather impressive look and agile nature, this centipede is already a legend in the pest talks of the United States. Chances are that many homeowners and outdoor people possess their tales of an encounter with this intriguing (and indeed, even scary) animal.
While we are at it we can get a closer glance at the world of a tiger centipede, talk about the infamous tiger centipede blue variant, find out whether you have to be concerned about a tiger centipede bite, and, of the most essence, determine whether or not your family is at risk when a centipede in the house rears its ugly head. Whether you worry about pest management or you are simply interest in fulfilling your curiosity, this is the ultimate guide on pest control by SayNoPest.
Understanding the Tiger Centipede
The tiger centipede is usually abundant in the southwestern USA, Mexico and along some regions of the Pacific coast. The active spotting across its body segments is very bold, and the dark bands are quite similar to those of a tiger, which has given it the nickname of the striped snake. Not only are they incredibly distinct in their visuality, but they are also incredibly adaptive, living in deserts, grasslands, forests, and now, at times, even in your residence.
The size of a full-grown tiger centipede is 47in; however, some may surpass this. They are strikingly variable in colour, all the way up to deep browns, vivid reds, to oranges, to even blues, all with yellowish legs. It is this variability that gave them their species name, polymorpha, meaning many forms. Surprised not to find the centipede in your house to be as different to the ones found on the internet, they are chameleon-like!
Tiger centipedes are pure carnivores; they are dependent on other insects. Although they are also able to live in harsh, boiling weather conditions, they prefer cool and moist areas to perch during the day; they like to hide in places like under rocks, in rotten logs, under sinks or even in your basement, and so, a centipede in the house can be a repeating problem
What Are Blue Tiger Centipedes?
Sometimes you will hear of the blue tiger centipede–a rare and beautiful colour form of the ordinary tiger centipede. These creepy crawlers are blue-hued and are mostly found in some populations in Southern California and the desert southwest. The baby centipedes are particularly bright and blue colored or possess dramatic blue appendages. When they grow up, they can change colour, but they are more likely to be bluer, as compared to their tiger-striped counterparts.
The blue tiger centipede is merely a colour variation of a species, but not of a different one. They develop to be of similar sizes (usually less than 5in) and share the same diet, breeding behaviour and characteristics as that of the common tiger centipede. They are also rare, so it is a big deal when they appear before the bug enthusiast, but when they appear inside your house, it is just as shocking as any other centipede in the house.
Tiger Centipede Bite: What You Need to Know
The bite of the tiger centipede is one of the common questions that many people ask. All centipedes, including those found in the wild and those that manifest themselves in the form of a centipede in the house, are found to endowed with venomous front legs that are modified, also known as modified legs. Contrary to actual fangs, these claw-like structures can enter the human flesh and deliver a dose of venom in order to disable the prey or take down a homeowner who is a bit too nosy.
Generally, bite from tiger centipedes causes pain in the affected area, swelling, and reddening of the skin as well as minor tissue responses. The bite wounds are normally V-shape with two minor punctures, and this is a typical signature of an attack by these organisms. Symptoms are itching, numbness or tingling, and the place where the centipede has bitten feels warm and becomes a bit inflamed during the next few hours.
Never panic in case you become a victim of a tiger centipede bite. Major medical attention is seldom need. Simple first aid, such as cleaning the site, cold compression and over-the-counter pain killers, should done. Nevertheless, a healthcare provider should consulted by anyone who is allergic to insect bites or stings, or those people who are bite in a sensitive area, like small children, just to on the safe side.
Are Tiger Centipede Bites Dangerous?
Certainly, one of the most critical questions for any person face with pests: are the injuries cause by a tiger centipede bite hazardous to human or pet life?
The reply is most often no. However, despite the potency of the venom of the centipede, it is not very dangerous to adult people who are in good health because it can kill only insects and small animals. Many times, when a tiger centipede bites, it leads to pain, rashes, and tingling in the body. Other symptoms, like allergic reactions or complete body symptoms, are highly rare.
The same reason holds when referring to household pets. The larger pets, such as dogs or cats, tend to recover without any event in the case of the tiger centipede or centipede house bite. The exception could occur in the case of smaller animals or animals that known to have allergies.
The most adequate preventive measure is not to touch these creatures in any way. Some appreciators keep them as pets, but handling them is always precarious, and even skilled workers succumb to their painful nip once in a while. In the unlikely event that it happens and you feel a tiger centipede bite and start feeling uncontrollable swelling, difficulty breathing, or other manifestations of a strong allergic reaction, go straight to the doctor immediately, but do not worry, because this rarely happens.
Conclusion
Tiger centipede is an absolute wonder of adaptation- gorgeous, ingenious, and (hooray!) it is not particularly harmful to a human. Centipedes offer unexpected advantages to the local ecosystems due to their magnificent colouration and capacity to facilitate maintaining the bug populations. Nevertheless, an unexpected visit by a centipede in house is an ugly thing and an unwelcome guest to the majority of Americans.
What Saynopest suggests is as follows:
- Never touch, or tease a tiger centipede, though it may appear peaceful.
- Maintain home hygiene- patch cracks and dry basements as well as remove clutter in and around the house to reduce a hiding place for the centipedes.
- In case of being bitten by a tiger centipede, consider this as a bee sting and monitor to detect any form of allergic reaction.
- Regarding the blue tiger centipede’s appearance as harmless and rare, but in case you would like the centipedes to disappear, there is specific pest control that can be implemented.
To get all the best pest-related information, effective control methods and the up-to-date creature features such as the tiger centipede, pay your visit to saynopest-your guide to pest-free peace of mind!
