We saw this huge centipede last week. This is a Scolopendrid centipede. Scolopendrids have either 42 or 46 legs. Their bodies are flattened are quite wide. This one was about 10 cm long but some giant ones grow as long as 30 cm long. These centipedes often have colourful bodies and may be red, pink, yellow, blue, green or a mixture of colours.
Interesting fact: The biggest centipede in the world is a Scolopendrid centipede. This giant centipede comes from tropical South America.
Centipedes are actually not insects or bugs, but they are from the myriapod group of the animal family.
Interesting fact no. 2: Natural predators: Mice eat centipedes.
NATURE IN JAPAN 