By Pauline Tom
Red and Yellow kill a fellow” is quite true when it comes to Central Texas snakes. For centipedes, it’s “Red and Yellow really hurt a fellow”.
The Texas redheaded centipedes (Scolopendra heros) are one of the world’s largest centipede species, growing to about six inches.
The one KissMe found in our backyard stood out even in the grass with its red head and yellow legs on a kagillion segments of a dark body. Quite the colorful creature.
It has fangs. It bites. The venomous bite will kill its prey. It’s not an insect to hold in your unprotected hand. For humans, can be extremely painful for several days and require medical attention for those with severe allergic reactions.
Clay Crum writes an online a blog about “The Wildlife of Mystic Shores at Canyon Lake.” He says:
Sex for a Texas Red Headed Centipede doesn’t involve mating. The male leaves a spermatophore lying around for the female to take up. Although this seems a rather unromantic and random method of reproducing, it apparently is effective because centipedes have been around over 400 million years. Anyway, after laying between 15 and 60 eggs in a hole in a rotted log, the female curls around the egg mass and protects and grooms the eggs from fungi until they hatch. They are born in late spring/early summer and, except for their color, they look like miniature adults. There is one downside to being a centipede mother: some species of Scolopendra are matriphagic, meaning that the offspring eat the mother.
Clay goes on to say these interesting centipedes can live for a few years.
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Amy Hilton, Loving Mountain City Coordinator, says:
Hope to see all of Mountain City at Fire and Ice on Saturday, October 25th, 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.! We are going to have new entertainment for the kids and Island Texas will be playing the night away again!
Due by Oct.18:
• “Shop Local” Applications
• Fire and Ice Cook Off Forms- we need you to fix your best Salsa and/or ice-cream and compete!
• Pre-Orders for food and Entertainment Bracelets- order early and save $
A stuffed envelope went to every residence in Mountain City containing the forms. If you missed receiving it, contact Amy at lovingmountaincity@gmail.com .
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To close this column, here’s a handy hint:
Since it got into mid-90’s this past week, I’m not holding this one for next spring. Get rid of weeds without using dangerous chemicals. Mix about a cup of 10% – 20% vinegar (not the 5% from grocery store) with a few drops of orange oil and a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. Stir well. Funnel into a plastic spray bottle. Drench surfaces of weed during the hottest part of a sunny day. Repeat in two days.
A larger batch can be mixed and stored in a cool dark place.
We had success with this solution during the summer. We’re hoping it will continue to do the trick when weeds pop up in our rockscape.
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I love to see tidbits pop up in my inbox. Please send to ptom5678@gmail.com (Subject: Tidbits) or 512.268.5678. Thanks! Love, Pauline
