Tuesday, September 02, 2008

How would you like...

...to wake up to find this parked on the ceiling above your bed?


Yeah, I thought so. That, my friends, is the common House Centipede, or Scutigera coleoptrata to use the Latin. Also known round these parts (specifically, and possibly only, in our apartment) as the Crickepede.
As far as mutant hell spawn go, these are supposedly a very useful type to have around, as they attack, inject with venom, and devour other household pests such as spiders, termites, roaches, silverfish, rodents, small babies, salesmen, and politicians. That does not alter the fact that they are by far the creepiest bugs I have ever seen. And I'm not the whimpering girly girl sort. Or so I claim.
So far we've found four adults (ranging from 1 to 1.75 inches long by my estimation) and two youngsters. Apparently we (or possibly a neighboring apartment) have got a small infestation. Granted we've got no other pests to speak of, thanks to the diligent work of our little Crickepede buddies, but still!
I've been desensitizing myself by looking at pictures on the web, but I still don't like them, useful or not. Eh, nasty Crickepedes. So creepy...

6 comments:

luckeyfrog said...

I don't know if the picture quite does them justice. Especially when all those little legs are moving.

Renee L. said...

That is exactly what I thought when I was adding it. I said to myself, "Does this really capture the Crickepede's essence?", and the answer is no.

Anonymous said...

Could be worse. It could've been on your bed instead. Or in.

Mrs. Milanowski said...

In Hawai'i we had centipedes that looked slightly more prehistoric, grew larger (up to 5 inches if I remember right), and would bite YOU and it would hurt like all get out. At least you don't have those.

elaine x said...

that is one of the coolest bugs!

Anonymous said...

I just found one in my garage in Indianapolis. I agree with you, "mutant hell spawn" really sums it up. I got online to research it before I went to bed, to make sure it wasn't going to eat me (or bite and poison me.)

Also, cute horse.