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Photo#10944
Tiger Centipede - Scolopendra polymorpha

Tiger Centipede - Scolopendra polymorpha
Lake Hodges, Rancho Bernardo, San Diego County, California, USA
December 28, 2002
Size: about 70 mm
This type of centipede is pretty common under rocks in the San Diego area.

Question
Because I'm unable to upload pictures of the Scolopendra polymorpha i have I thought I might ask a quick question. Everywhere I go, people keep telling me this thing is highly dangerous. I caught it down in Southern California ( Orange County ) They tell me it bites and will hurt or kill my pet. I found it when i lifted a tree branch off the ground to move it for my horse to jump it. it scared me when it swiftly cralled towards me looking quiet angered. I'm worried now because I brought it home to show my little brother and my mom. I would just like a real story from someone who has seen one before.

 
Scolopendra polymorpha
I have several different varieties of Scolopendra, the S. polymorpha or "Desert Tiger", is quiet harmless it's bite is not terribly painful. Venom of this variety is nothing compared to S. subspinipes, especially S.s. de haani. Many people have been bitten by these much larger, more potent, and far more painful varieties and other than the temporary discomfort of pain are not harmed.
There has been only one recorded death from a centipede bite, in some SE Asian island country; Java, Malyasia,or someplace like that. That occured sometime way back in the day, several decades possibly closer to a century ago. From what I understand of the incident it was a small girl 2-3 yrs old, she was bit on the head. She died not from the venom, but from subsquent infection that arose in the bite wound.
Basically you have little to worry about from a bite other than some mild pain, with species you have. The native species here in North America, are quiet wimpy compared to the jungle species.
I have a few Scolopendra heros castaneiceps, they are regared as some of the most strikingly attractive Scolopendra in the world, pictures never do these beauties justice.
So, relax and enjoy your prize you have a fantastic and virtually harmless centipede.

Moved

Scolopendra polymorpha Wood,
Scolopendra polymorpha Wood, 1861, the only representative of the Scolopendridae occurring natively in California. Note the "procurved groove" on the first segment; the presence or absence of this feature is another important taxonomic character, and S. alternans in the Florida Keys lacks this groove.

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