My erstwhile companion was a stone centipede, so-called because normally they live outside where they scamper around at great speeds under rocks. In these rocky domains they are top predators, chasing down woodlice, worms, springtails, grubs and other likely prey. Their phlattened physiques allow them to squeeze into tiny crevices to avoid being captured by curious naturalists and other potential predators.
If you look closely at the head of this arthropod, you will see flanges to either side. These are actually poison claws, which are in the retracted or resting position. When in hot pursuit of food items, these claws are ready to open up (like a blade on a jack-knife) and grab the prey before it gets away. For a pretty good image of these claws, visit http://somethingscrawlinginmyhair.com/2008/05/31/stone-centipede/ . Actually, if you look really closely at the left-hand flange in my photo, right up near the antenna, you can see the tip of the claw - it is partially open. Pretty cool, eh?
The burning question, however, is how did it get into my bathtub? They apparently enjoy hanging out in rocky streams, where moving water and lots of hidey holes provide good foraging opportunities. Did it, therefore, come up from the drain? If so, how did it get into the drain in the first place? Its presence there would suggest a hole somewhere in the drain...this does not bode well. I suppose it could've crawled up the side of the house, lifted the window screen (apparently they are quite strong) and fell into the tub. I have my doubts, though, since they prefer to be in dark tight places, and the side of my house is neither. Could it have crawled into the house and up the side of the tub, only to fall into the tub's interior? Considering the struggle it was engaged in trying to crawl up the slippery sides of the tub while I watched (and for all I know it is still doing), I suspect this option is a no-go, too. This brings us back to the drain. I'm not really liking the implications here. Hm.
The photo makes me squirm! (But it is a great photo). In an apartment I lived in when I was in Plattsburgh we had some of these show up in our kitchen sink. I never bothered to do much research into it, but I always assumed they had crawled out of the drain.
ReplyDeletei see those centipedes in my house frequently. I assume they come in the same way the mice come in -- in short, I don't know how. I figure there must be some crack between the foundation and the siding somewhere. Neither mice nor centipedes need much room to squeeze in. My cats take care of the mice, but they don't seem to go after the centipedes. I'll bet they taste bad. I just ignore them. Except when they surprise me and then I go EEEK! just like any silly girl.
ReplyDeleteI've heard that the most common way for mice to get into the house is the same way we do - through the door. They shoot in when somebody opens the door and isn't paying attention.
ReplyDeleteCentipedes could get in the same way, but they could also squeeze in through very small gaps around the foundation, or even between siding shingles and then through electrical outlet boxes.
As for getting into the tub, one likely route would be up the wall, across the ceiling, and then drop into the tub. I wouldn't expect them to come up a drain, they'd drown in the "trap" that keeps smells from coming up from the sewer.
Thanks, Tom - however it got into the tub, it found a way back out, for when I was back in the house around noon, it was gone. It was struggling against the side of the tub earlier in the morning, so I don't see how it could've gotten enough purchase to crawl out, but hey, maybe the cat helped it out!
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