Giant Millipedes

[CarlBkk]

I love 'em to look at, but just wonder do they actually bite/sting if you pick them up, and are they poisonous to the point of severe hornet-like pain and doctor treatment?

[leisurely]

Give it a go, you won't know unless you try

[teletiger]

Give it a go, you won't know unless you try

Hope that was in fun.

These creatures pack enough venom to kill a pig.

Regards

[Farma]

I've seen them excrete a liquid when disturbed but never allowed myself to come in contact. I can only assume it's an irritant.

[PhilHarries]

Millipedes live outdoors in damp areas such as under leaves, needles and dead plant debris, or in cracks and crevices. They feed on damp and decaying vegetable matter and are beneficial as "recyclers" of organic matter. However, they become a pest when they migrate into buildings as accidental invaders. Millipedes are usually found in the garage, basement or lowest level although they may wander into other parts of the house. They are most active at night and usually hide during the day in cracks and other moist locations.

Millipedes are harmless; they do not feed upon building structures or furnishings and they can not bite or sting. Millipedes can not reproduce indoors. All millipedes found inside wandered in by mistake.

Source : Iowa State University, Department of Entomology

Now, what CarlBkk may be talking about are the centipedes. Millipedes differ from centipedes not by the number of legs, some centipedes have more legs than some millipedes, but by the fact that they have two pairs of legs per body segment.

The other difference is that centipedes feed on other insects, bugs, worms, small lizards and even small mammals. They have a venomous bite, don't know about a pig but their bite has been known to kill a small dog.

Millipedes tend to be darker in colour whereas all the centipedes I've seen in Thailand are a light yellowish brown.

The Thais catch and drown them in alchohol, lao khao, and supposedly the venom leaches out and the resulting cocktail gives you more power you know where. Never noticed any effect personally.

Best avoided IMO.

[Sheryl]

If you mean the ugly critters I think you do, the locals here assure me they are very poisonous, and that while their sting won't kill a human, you'll wish it had..................!!

[Somtham]

If you mean the ugly critters I think you do, the locals here assure me they are very poisonous, and that while their sting won't kill a human, you'll wish it had..................!!

Gotta be my most feared critter here in Thailand. Everybody tells me the bite is more painful than a scorpion and most snakes. Don't mess with them unless it's to remove the head!! Here's a pic.

rgds

[Farma]

I see confusion reigns. The photo above is a centipede. They are dangerous.

The OP asked about a millipede. A millipede has a long cylindrical body with what looks like hundreds of legs. They curl up into a spiral when disturbed.

[PhilHarries]

Cripes Somtham, that piccy brings back not so fond memories for me.

Arrived at work one day with a sharp pain in my foot like a jagged piece of stone or glass was in my boot. By the time I got to my desk it was <deleted>' hurting. Whipped of the boot sharpish and one of those, but about half the size, scuttled out and away until said size ten steel toe cap daisy root descended on it with extreme predujice. Boy it took some killing, tough old buggers are they. My foot swelled up and hurt for a week afterwards.

Since then I've always banged out my boots before sticking my feet in them.

I don't like killing things unless it's absolutely necessary and with those critters, if they get in the house, it's ABSOLUTELY necessary.

[helicoptor]

Prior to placing my plates into shoes in the morning I always give them a good shake - and observe the 10 or so mosquitos vacate them !

As the saying goes.. once bitten..

[Somtham]

I see confusion reigns. The photo above is a centipede. They are dangerous.

The OP asked about a millipede. A millipede has a long cylindrical body with what looks like hundreds of legs. They curl up into a spiral when disturbed.

Yes, it is a centipede and like Phil points out, even a small one will inflict pain that will last for a week. Just wanted to let the OP know not to mess with these guys (centipedes), unless it's to remove the head or very carefully to put it in a bottle of see-sip :-)

The locals fear even the smallest centipede.

rgds

[Farma]

No offence meant Somtham.

Those centipedes are bad news. I remember many years ago having a Canadian friend and his wife visit me in Bangkok. They had just spent time up in his wife’s village.

He opened his suitcase and a big centipede crawled out. Luckily I stopped him in time as he was just going to pick it up with his bare hand as it looked so nice.

[Rainmaker]

If you mean the ugly critters I think you do, the locals here assure me they are very poisonous, and that while their sting won't kill a human, you'll wish it had..................!!

Gotta be my most feared critter here in Thailand. Everybody tells me the bite is more painful than a scorpion and most snakes. Don't mess with them unless it's to remove the head!! Here's a pic.

rgds

seen lots of these fellas, generally are they aggressive or just tend to run away from you like most things? also what the cure if bitten? Ive got a small baby so want to be prepared just in case.

[markr]

The only time i ever saw one of those critters was in a restaurant in samui, the land lady battered it to a pulp screaming that it would kill a man!

I hoped that I would never come across one again

Mark

[geoffphuket]

These Thai Millipedes are harmless enough - they tend to tickle if you pick them up though :

[elfe]

the centipedes mainly appear when raining, the water washes them out of their hollows and forces them to move away. when i see one i also hammer it to death, i like most living creatures but this one is a nono. not easy though as they move fast and are sturdy. most of my dogs get very excited when they see one and my cats already killed many of them, even very big ones!

very dangerous if bitten in the wrong part of your body!! also sensitive or allergic people can have faints or heart failures from these bites - so watch out!!

[Skyline]

Millipedes are slow moving and harmless to us.

Centipedes are bloody fast and hurt like hel_l!

[CarlBkk]

I'd assumed the centipedes could inflict pain (the smaller garden centipedes do back home), and generally any insect with colourful/red markings has some poison available, which is why I wondered about the millipedes - the small black ones back home are harmless, but the ones in Thailand have red markings. Me being the curious bugg*r I am found one on the pavement curled around a discarded sweet eating it hungrily. With a small stick I gently touched the sweet and it actually took its head off it and attacked the stick!

[Tony Clifton]

Here's a nice fat one. It's the yellow legged species. A Burmese friend caught it in the in-laws backyard in Samut Prakan. My father in law says he's been bitten by snakes and once by a centipede and would let a snake bite him again anytime instead.

[CarlBkk]

Here's a nice fat one. It's the yellow legged species. A Burmese friend caught it in the in-laws backyard in Samut Prakan. My father in law says he's been bitten by snakes and once by a centipede and would let a snake bite him again anytime instead.

That's a beauty indeed! I'm sure the country folk could make use of them on the dinnerplate.

[cobra]

The only time i ever saw one of those critters was in a restaurant in samui, the land lady battered it to a pulp screaming that it would kill a man!

Ditto, Samui is the only place I've ever seen one.

Was staying at the old Chaweng Gardens, in a bungalow close to beach, noticed one emerging form the drain in the urinal, he was only half out and already ~6" long.

I persuaded it to retreat back down the drain by urinating on it that seemed like forever. (did I say I'd been drinking a little )

Anyway didn't sleep that well that night knowing they live in or can travel via the plumbing and it was just a matter of time before he emerged again, probably in the middle of the night, with attendant attitude from previous encounter with said occupant.

[PhilHarries]

That's a beauty indeed! I'm sure the country folk could make use of them on the dinnerplate.

I was told that the Thais don't eat them but drown them in alchohol, the resulting cocktail of venom and hooch gies you power.

I actually witnessed this process in action once. I arrived at my usual breakfast shack to find it in some dissarray. A guy appeared wearing heavy duty leather industrial gloves and clutching a similar sized critter to the one pictured. The beastie wa deposited into an empty bottle which was then topped up with a clear spirit (lao khao I think). A couple of days later I was presented a shot of the resulting brew for my delectation. I can honestly say it didn't do anything for me but would definately not recommend a shot for breakfast as it didn't go down too well.

[macb]

WEll the general opinion in the village is kill them dont get bitten, if you do God forbid its get your self to Hospital but take the ugly critter with you once its killed, then they know the correct treatment, obviously you Thai eife would know what to tel the Hospital, same applis to snake bites they say take the snake with you. mmmmmmmmmmmmm

[macb]

These Thai Millipedes are harmless enough - they tend to tickle if you pick them up though :

In our village they dont like these either and rush to kill lhem

[Lost in LOS]

a couple of weeks ago I was putting on my jeans to take my dog for a walk. they were laying on the end of a couch in my bedroom. as I zipped up I immediately felt a lot of action [none good] in my crotch area. I whipped off my pants rather quickly and there was an 8" centipede scampering away. I killed it immediately. luckily I didn’t get bit but my crotch area felt like ants were running over it for the next few hours. maybe only in my mind or maybe their legs have nails but it felt awful, no marks thankfully. I was one lucky guy that I didn’t get bit and I always check now. I do seem to have one in my house every few weeks. One crawled up from the water in the toilet once. I flushed it down many many times and a few days later it was there again alive and well. I left it in the water overnight this time and it drowned and then I flushed.

Jimmy

[leisurely]

Sorry, this is off topic. MacB, we were told NOT to try to kill any snake that bit you, just get to the hospital and describe what you saw. Also, do not apply a tourniqet to stop the poison spreading. That was the red cross in BKK.

[Tywais]

If you mean the ugly critters I think you do, the locals here assure me they are very poisonous, and that while their sting won't kill a human, you'll wish it had..................!!

Gotta be my most feared critter here in Thailand. Everybody tells me the bite is more painful than a scorpion and most snakes. Don't mess with them unless it's to remove the head!! Here's a pic.

rgds

Just a couple of days ago I saw one of those that had just crawled into the living room from the front steps. Having heard all the stories, and now see the picture (exactly the same as this one), I grabbed a magazine and beat the h3ll out of it. Don't usually want to kill anything, but was unsettling seeing this in the living room.

[gregybn]

Centipedes = trouble

Here's one out back of the kitchen, having some dessert.

Millipedes = fun

I call the milli's = soccer bugs

The first time you nudge them they curl up... the second time they really tighten up in a little ball... then you can boot them (gently) across the floor to your intended "goal"

[gregybn]

centipedes - pets that bite

A good forum with actual reports of how a bite feels!

Seems a small pede = small worry

BIG pede = BIG PAIN

Chok Dee Krap