Centipedes are arthropods that belong to the class Chilopoda. They have long, flattened bodies with one pair of legs per body segment. Centipedes are fast-moving predators that typically eat insects, worms, and other small animals. Despite their fierce nature as hunters, centipedes themselves fall prey to a variety of predators. Like all creatures, they also have fears and phobias that guide their behavior.
Predators of centipedes
Centipedes have many natural enemies that like to eat them. These include:
- Birds – Many species of birds prey on centipedes. Examples include crows, jays, thrushes, flycatchers, and hummingbirds.
- Mammals – Shrews, moles, rodents, and bats are known to attack and feed on centipedes.
- Reptiles and amphibians – Snakes, lizards, frogs, and toads eagerly consume centipedes.
- Spiders – Large spiders sometimes catch and eat centipedes in their webs.
- Insects – Praying mantises, ground beetles, ants, and predatory bugs are insect predators of centipedes.
As you can see, centipedes face threats from all sides in nature! But their many legs and quick movements help them escape from predators much of the time.
Fears and phobias
Do centipedes experience fear? As arthropods, they likely do not have emotions in the same way humans understand them. But they do exhibit instinctual behaviors and reactions that help them survive in the face of perceived threats.
Here are some things that provoke fearful responses in centipedes:
Exposure to light
Most centipedes are nocturnal and avoid bright light. Direct sunlight can dry out their bodies, so they tend to freeze or flee to dark hiding spots when exposed. Sudden changes in light levels seem to alarm them.
Vibrations
Centipedes are sensitive to vibrations through structures called slit sensilla on their legs. These act as motion detectors. Approaching footsteps, movements of potential threats, or other ground vibrations prompt centipedes to scurry away and hide.
Short wavelengths
Research indicates that centipedes are averse to short wavelength light even more than white light. Ultraviolet and purple-blue frequencies of light elicit intense avoidance behaviors.
Touch
Centipedes do not enjoy being handled and will try to escape or bite if threatened. They rely on touch sensation through nerve endings on the base of their legs to detect close contact or attempted captures.
Chemicals
Strong chemical odors, especially from insecticides or pesticides, trigger centipedes to hurriedly flee areas to avoid harm. They detect scents using sensory organs near the bases of their legs.
Loud noises
Centipedes lack ears or structured auditory organs, but can sense ground vibrations induced by loud sounds. Noises like thunder may scare them into hiding.
Movement above
Centipedes avoid open areas and stay close to rocks, boards, leaves, logs, and other shelters. Movement or shadows passing above them leaves them feeling exposed and vulnerable to aerial attacks.
Large animals
Coming face-to-face with larger creatures like humans, dogs, or cats is terrifying for centipedes and cues their survival instinct to either freeze or quickly get away.
Trapped spaces
Centipedes fear confined areas and being caught in traps. Their instinct is always to move freely and to have escape routes available.
| Threat | Reaction |
|---|---|
| Light exposure | Freeze or flee |
| Vibrations | Hastened escape |
| Certain wavelengths | Avoidance |
| Touch | Bite or escape |
| Scents | Retreat |
| Noises | Hide |
| Overhead movements | Take cover |
| Large animals | Freeze or flee |
| Confinement | Struggle to escape |
This table summarizes the main triggers and reactions related to centipede fears as a quick reference.
Why do centipedes exhibit fear?
For any animal, the ability to detect and respond appropriately to potential threats is directly tied to survival. Centipede reactions that resemble “fear” serve the purpose of keeping them alive and safe from harm. Specific fears like avoidance of light or sensitivity to vibrations are innate traits passed down over many generations because they effectively warn centipedes of looming danger.
Some key benefits centipede fears provide include:
- Predator avoidance – Fear of open areas, light, noise, and large animals prompts centipedes to evade predators.
- Injury prevention – Fear of close contact/handling, confinement, and chemicals steers centipedes away from potential sources of physical harm.
- Life continuation – Reactions we label as “fear” trigger survival instincts that enable centipedes to live another day and reproduce.
So in essence, the fearful behaviors of centipedes have evolved over time because they successfully increase vigilance and steer centipedes out of perilous situations.
Conclusion
Centipedes exhibit a range of avoidance behaviors and heightened reactions to various environmental stimuli that protect them from threats and danger. While we cannot entirely know the inner experience of a centipede, these instinctual responses likely constitute something akin to “fear” in terms of motivating survival actions. Sensitivity to light, vibrations, chemicals, and other triggers steer centipedes away from predators and injury risks. The fears of centipedes, much like our own, serve the basic but paramount purpose of preserving life.