Giant Centipedes of the Caribbean - SXM Sint Maarten

They look prehistoric. They make goose bumps break out on your skin. They move lightening quick, leaving most people screaming and running for cover. They have a reputation matched by no other and their bite packs a wallop. No, this is not something out of a horror movie…and it’s not Halloween time. I’m talking about the giant centipedes of the Caribbean!

Living in the Caribbean comes with its fair share of hazards: traffic congestion, power outages, hurricanes….and centipedes! These bugs are a force to be reckoned with. A mere smack with a shoe or a full can of insecticide won’t do you any good. But how much do you really know about these alien looking creatures?

Well, ok, for starters they have a giant scientific name: Scolopendra gigantean. That’s quite a mouthful. Let’s stick to calling them giant centipedes. These creatures live in the warm and moist areas of the world. They are found mainly in the South American Amazon and parts of the Caribbean, namely Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica and, of course, here in Sint Maarten/St. Martin. Typically found in deep, moist leaf litter, their bodies dry out quickly if they are exposed to sun or wind. These predatory carnivores can grow to a length of thirty-five centimeters and are known for their climbing ability and speed. Who hasn’t had nightmares for days after seeing the mad dash of one of these beasts across the kitchen floor? You spend days wondering where it went and when it will come back.

Contrary to belief, these centipedes don’t have one hundred legs. Centipedes get their name from “centi” meaning hundred, and “ped” meaning foot.  In reality they have usually only forty jointed legs that are tinted yellow. All centipede species have odd number pair of legs: that is to say a species may have 17 pairs or 51 pairs of legs, never 50 pairs of legs. That means you can’t find a centipede that has exactly 100 legs! Centipedes are invertebrates; they don’t have a backbone. Their maroon body is segmented, each having a pair of legs.

The head is the business end of this animal and contains a mouth, antennae and pincers. These pincers are used for defense as well as capturing prey. And these pinches pack one heck of a punch! These pincers inject venom that can paralyze a smaller victim. The poison injected is toxic to humans, but fortunately not sufficient to usually cause death. The bite of the giant centipede can, however cause chills, fever, nausea and severe pain. For most people, a centipede bite is harmless, resulting in a painful sting and symptoms that pass after a few hours. *‘Mild as a bee sting at the least, the pain is worse the larger the centipede. Small puncture wounds may be scene at the location of the bite. Swelling usually occurs with bites, even mild ones. More severe symptoms include headache, heart palpitations, nausea, vomiting, anxiety and lymphangitis, a painful swelling of the lymph nodes. The primary care for a bite is to wash the area with soap and water. Never use alcohol.  Use ice packs to reduce any swelling. People who have insect allergies should monitor themselves closely following a centipede bite and may need to contact emergency medical services in the event of more severe symptoms.’ {*Information courtesy of webmd.com.} Also, they can also pinch with their hindmost legs, so they should just not be handled. Realistically, although aggressive, most giant centipedes are pretty shy and will back away if given the chance.

Giant centipedes usually eat smaller bugs and are quite the scavengers. They’ll eat the remains of other animals. They can also be quite impressive hunters. They are mainly nocturnal and as mentioned can be swift when descending on their victims. By using stealth, they have been known to hunt down and being able to disable and consume mice, frogs, lizards and birds. Amazingly, they have even been observed catching bats in caves, while they fly by! This creature has proven to be quite clever. The centipede goes into the caves, making its way up the wall of the cave. It grips the stony ceiling with its two hind legs, dangling the rest of its body beneath it. It waves back and forth so it can come across a bat flying by. When finding one, it grabs it from midair and paralyses it with a bite. Within seconds the bat is disabled and the centipede can eat it within a very short period of time. When done, it climbs down and slithers out of the cave.

Here’s a surprising fact: Did you know that female centipedes can actually be quite attentive mothers? Seems strange, doesn’t it?  Once a female centipede has been fertilized, she’ll deposit her eggs; usually fifteen to sixty at a time, into holes within the soil, sealing it back up with dirt to mature. The female giant centipede shows parental care by guarding and licking the eggs to prevent fungal infections. The female centipede will sometimes continue to guard her young, until they're ready to leave the nest. When the young hatch, they go through various molts as they grow, increasing the number of legs they get each time. It usually takes a centipede three years to mature and they can live as long as six years.

Certainly centipedes are not cute; nonetheless, there are people who want them as pets. Centipedes are actually becoming a favorite among exotic pet owners worldwide, but extreme care must be taken while handling them.

So there you have it, some great facts about the Giant Centipede. Regardless of your wealth of new information, you’ll probably still scream in sheer terror the next time you see one, even if it’s only an inch in length!

Weathering the Weather.

Well, hurricane season has come awake with a mighty loud roar. Earl shook us up a little, leaving debris and damage in its wake. Throughout the season, we’ve been constantly reminded about having the right supplies and enough supplies. The dos and don’ts of hurricane survival. But no body ever talks about how to pass the time during the storm, when there is nothing to do but wait and wonder.  Now, keep in mind: a hurricane is not a joke or a matter to be taken lightly, and I would like to stress that this article is not meant to imply that in any way. All I’m pointing out is some fun ways to keep your mind occupied and reduce stress levels. Especially for those with families that include young children. The way people choose to pass the time range from being frantic with worry, sleeping through it or getting blind drunk.  You can find a happy medium with a little help.

Now, once you’ve made all your necessary preparations – which should always be a priority, take a little time to check on your ‘fun’ supplies. One of the most popular suggestions out there is board games and card games. That’s right! Dust off the old Monopoly and Clue and enjoy a friendly board game competition. It’s a great way to spend time together and you don’t need any electricity to do it.  Light a few candles and kick back for some fun. This idea isn’t just for the kids. Adults can have a blast, too. If you’re play with kids, try to spice it up a little. You can always raise the stakes by making bets on household chores for when the storm is over. The loser has to wash dishes for the next two nights, or the winner gets to relax for a week without cleaning. It makes for a more competitive atmosphere and will pass the time much faster. As for the grown-ups, well, you can come up with your own bets…

There is a very special group of storm riders that need extra attention. Those are the little kids. Keeping young children under control during any storm can be rough, especially during a major storm that has probably left you without any power. Arts and Crafts work as a great way to keep them busy. Simple household items can be loads of fun. Aluminum foil can bring hours of entertainment. You can make all sorts of great shapes, from snakes to birds, even crowns. Something as simple as a box of crayons and paper works really well, too.

For the older kids, a favorite thing to do it ghost stories. What a perfect setting! The power’s out {more than likely}, the winds howling and there’s candles lit. See if you’re up to the challenge of telling the scariest story!

Another fantastic idea is charades. Have everyone write down ideas, characters, movies, etc. onto small pieces of paper and place them into a bucket. Each person takes a turn drawing a piece from the bucket and acting out what is on the paper. You’re ready to have hours of fun. Again, this a great idea for people young and old, and the rules can be changed to fit the needs of the situation. You can spend the night acting out Disney movies…or adjust it so you’re acting out scenes from Aliens or Predator.

Scavenger hunts can keep people busy for hours and are particularly fun when a flashlight is required. You'll want to plan this activity ahead of time, so you can hide everything before the electricity goes out. For added fun, use a pirate theme and have guests wear bandanas or eye patches. Hey, we live in the Caribbean, right? Make your scavenger hunt maps by printing them on parchment paper, then lightly burning the edges to create a frayed, worn-out look. Roll them up and tie with twine. You can make the hidden objects appropriate for the age group. Candy and toys for the kids and rum and limes for the adults!

And of course, the island favorite: HURRICANE PARTY! This is the most popular way to weather out a storm. It’s a way for people to make memories and have the stories to tell. Plenty of photo opportunities, that may result in blackmail material. Look, we live in the Caribbean – hurricanes are a way of life, but they don’t have to rule our life! A hurricane party can be something as simple as people getting together for drinks in a storm, to big 3-5 day events. A hurricane party is a great way to insure your family and friends are safe and sound. If you plan on hosting a hurricane party, here are a few things you’ll need to consider.

Consider the needs of your guests. Ask yourself these key questions: Will children be attending or will this be an adults-only party? Will drinking alcohol be encouraged or prohibited? Does anyone have medical concerns such as heart problems or diabetes? Will any one bring pets? If so, do they have any special needs and are they socialized? Also, it's a good idea to have some form of support plan in place. Prior to kicking off the party, gather all your guests and talk about a safety plan and let every body voice any fears they may have. Getting things out in the open from the beginning will make it easier to cope when the hurricane hits.

Make sure everyone knows what they need to bring. Sure, the host will provide needed things, but it’s always a great help when everyone pitches in. Many times people are encouraged to bring along hurricane supplies such as food, beverages, jugs of water, batteries, first aid kit, etc. It's also common for people to bring their own flashlight and sleeping bag, along with a party item such as a board game, playing cards or coloring books and crayons. Of course, essentials like ice and a blender should be considered! Nothing’s worse than running out of limes in the middle of a storm!

Comfort food is a necessity at hurricane parties. Serve foods such as macaroni and cheese, nachos with all the fixings, hamburgers, hotdogs and steaks. Chicken and dumplings, pasta dishes, and pizza are always a welcome addition to any hurricane party. Start by consuming the food in your refrigerator and freezer, as well as foods that need to be cooked. Eat the items that will spoil quickly when the power goes out. This gives you a great excuse to eat ice cream first!

Last, but not least, you need to have a little music for your hurricane party. Reggae and island music are well-suited choices; particularly Jimmy Buffet. In fact, you can create an entire Jimmy Buffet, "Margaritaville" theme for your hurricane party.  Any music will do. Some people may want to rock out, others may want to chill out. Just keep in mind that radios and CD players use up a lot of batteries.

Hurricane parties should be fun, yet safe. Keep a close ear toward the weather radio and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Be creative, be prepared, bring plenty of food, water and supplies, be safe and have fun! When all is said and done, you will have a group of well-fed, happy people who can help you with any clean-up. And the party can spread to the clean up, too. Make cleaning up less of a chore and more fun.

Look, hurricanes can be a scary event. But there are a lot of ways to keep your spirits high while staying safe. Safety should always be the first priority. After safety comes good, sensible fun. Earl was a close call and Fiona fizzled and there’s not a single complaint about that. As we begin to recover we are keeping a wary eye on the news as Gaston seems to be the next threat. Get your supplies together, for both safety and fun to weather out the storm the best way you can!