Stories & pictures about birds & nature, mostly in my backyard.....with occasional bits of pets, knitting, weather, food & family thrown in for variety.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Narceus americanus
It was a gorgeous late summer day and perfect for a family picnic at our favorite spot: Forestville State Park. In the picnic shelter, we found this large millipede (Narceus americanus).Normally I'm a bit squeamish about bugs that are larger than an inch, but this millipede was really interesting and after my brother and nephew said it was really cool to feel all those millipede legs walking across their hand, I had to experience the sensation also.
It was a really neat feeling and so fascinating to watch all those little legs propelling this millipede forward and backwards! Sorry this video isn't longer......hopefully you'll find a large millipede of your own someday and experience the wonder of this amazing bug!
Cool millipede. Everything is right with the world when someone takes time to feel a bug's legs rather than squish a bug! Wonder where they fit in the food chain? Do you know what they eat? I guess I could look it up. ;-) Today I came across a spider weaving its "thread" around some bug it had caught. Just used its front two legs. Fascinating.
Oh Lordy. We have tiny millipedes advancing daily all around here and I am over them (one of my cats like to eat them and then gets violently ill...slow learner, he is). If I saw one that big, well...let's just say I wouldn't be picking him up to get to know each other (I catch and release outdoors). You're a good person, Ruthie!
Hi Lynne, The first time we saw it I was too chicken to pick it up, but when it showed up again, I just couldn't resist.
Thanks Mollie. I usually try not to squish any big bugs -- can't stand that crunchy sound!! I've seen my garden spiders with "lunch" all wrapped up too -- that's so neat how they can do that!
It was kinda tickley Gaelyn!
I understand Jayne! It was pretty neat though.....
Hi Martie, I usually get those tiny millipedes in the basement once it starts getting colder. My cat likes to watch them but I don't think she's ever tried eating one. I had no idea we had those big ones here in Minnesota.
I understand Guinifer. It was kind of snake-like, but didn't move quite as fast and all those little feet were an interesting sensation.
Thanks Meggie. Hopefully you can find one in your backyard someday!
I'm a middle-aged, tattooed biker woman, forced to work to support my knitting & bird-feeding habits. I share my indoor space with 1 husband and 1 dog -- a rescued pitbull.
9 comments:
Oh my, Ruthie! That's a BIG BUG! Slow moving bugs are somehow less creepy to me than fast ones. Good for you!
Cool millipede. Everything is right with the world when someone takes time to feel a bug's legs rather than squish a bug! Wonder where they fit in the food chain? Do you know what they eat? I guess I could look it up. ;-) Today I came across a spider weaving its "thread" around some bug it had caught. Just used its front two legs. Fascinating.
What a perfectly tickley situation.
Uh... I'll just take your word for it Ruthie! Tee hee hee!
Oh Lordy. We have tiny millipedes advancing daily all around here and I am over them (one of my cats like to eat them and then gets violently ill...slow learner, he is). If I saw one that big, well...let's just say I wouldn't be picking him up to get to know each other (I catch and release outdoors). You're a good person, Ruthie!
Shivers up and down the spine for that guy!
What a cool experience!
Hi Lynne,
The first time we saw it I was too chicken to pick it up, but when it showed up again, I just couldn't resist.
Thanks Mollie. I usually try not to squish any big bugs -- can't stand that crunchy sound!!
I've seen my garden spiders with "lunch" all wrapped up too -- that's so neat how they can do that!
It was kinda tickley Gaelyn!
I understand Jayne! It was pretty neat though.....
Hi Martie,
I usually get those tiny millipedes in the basement once it starts getting colder. My cat likes to watch them but I don't think she's ever tried eating one. I had no idea we had those big ones here in Minnesota.
I understand Guinifer. It was kind of snake-like, but didn't move quite as fast and all those little feet were an interesting sensation.
Thanks Meggie. Hopefully you can find one in your backyard someday!
Ok...now I have the creepy crawlies just from looking at the images of the millipede...but...it is a gorgeous specimen!!
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