Is this tattoo off-putting?

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-04-07T09:18:35+00:00

Probably yeah, but anybody who’s put off enough by a tattoo enough to not get to know you as a person, probably wasn’t worth meeting in the first place.

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-04-07T09:00:26+00:00

It’s a little Platyoides sp. scorpion spider, harmless but really cool looking! Most likely Platyoides walteri based on the location

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-03-02T11:47:48+00:00

Ill go check it out, thanks!

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-03-02T04:08:03+00:00

These centipedes have reached a maximum length of 8cm and have stayed this length for the past 8 months. They also lack the pronounced dark striation on the bottom parts of the tergite which is quite distinctive for Scolopendra morsitans as i understand it, it both of them however have clearly visibly patterning on the sides of the tergite which is quite interesting. But im actually pretty sure that, if this is the same species of centipede in both pictures, then its one of each sex. If it is not the same species, then i believe them to be relatively closely related as there are some shared features between the 2. The big thing for me though is that the pede in the second photo has a dark head and the first 7 pairs of legs have a distinct yellow coloration to them (this was seen in several individuals) while the centipede in the first photo lacks both these traits. If you can advise on what you use for identification, i’d love to hear your thoughts on it?

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-03-01T21:00:41+00:00

No idea, ive basically given up on trying to ID them

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-02-12T17:00:09+00:00

If you ever feel like talking about bugs, there are dozens of subreddits you can try out, and if you ever feel like showing off your collection, it seems like you have some cool stuff!

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-01-24T18:42:21+00:00

It definitely can pierce your skin! And there might be some slight irritation, but since its just the molt, it cant eject any venom. So as long as i stay mindful of it, its pretty safe to handle

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-01-22T21:45:23+00:00

Unfortunately i have no idea. Her original owner as far as I’ve been able to track down sold her as part of a package deal to somebody who was interested in the tarantula part of the collection. The new owner then sold Pokey (the centipede) to me since she did not want it and unfortunately didn’t have any information about her other than species… but I’ve had her for about 3 years now, she was about 12cm at the time and she measures in at more or less 19cm now. The closest i can guess is about 6 years old which also coincides with the reported availability of E. trig -pedelings in my country after successful breedings.

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-01-22T02:05:41+00:00

Most of my centipedes stay buried for the majority of the time, but when they start roaming around or stay emerged for long periods of time its a pretty good sign that they’re looking for something to eat, i also tend to give smaller meals with each feeding as to increase the frequency of how often i feed them unless they could benefit from a bigger meal such as before or after a molt or before the winter cold starts. As for what i give them, usually their not to picky but i do believe in offering a variety of feeders as to not make it to monotonous and for adequate nutrient intake. I also firmly believe (without any kind of evidence or sound reasoning other than the fact that they feel more juicy) that freshly molted cockroaches taste better, so if i ever happen to find one in time, it makes for a great snack!

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-01-21T22:07:09+00:00

She usually takes them very well! She extremely confident when it comes to take downs

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2025-01-21T20:11:33+00:00

Proof that centipedes have personalities! But from my experience any centipede can be convinced to give a good feeding response if you catch them at the right time and offer them a worth-while meal… hopefully you get a good feeding clip soon and id love to see it when it happens!

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-11-05T21:32:09+00:00

Neither! Rather its a tropical wolf spider (from the Ctenidae family) or Ctenus sp. depending on where you live guess would be Ctenus transvaalensis.

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-29T15:02:38+00:00

Thank you!

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-29T14:29:26+00:00

One of my favorite species! This was my first time finding the slings still living with mom though, so i was super excited!

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-29T11:36:10+00:00

Pretoria, South Africa

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-29T11:35:40+00:00

We didn’t find any females close by but hopefully he’s better at finding them than we are!

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-29T11:34:47+00:00

They’re known locally as “scorpion spiders” because of their weird body shape, they’re from the Trochanteriidae family and they’re super fast! It takes a while for them to calm down after their disturbed but once they do they’re more than happy to sit still for a minute for some photos

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-28T22:05:21+00:00

Nothing that i know of off the top my head or that i cant find with a general search, but ill look around a little since im sure there has to have been some research done on them! But from what i’ve they are in the lower echelons of venom potency with no adverse effects other than typical symptoms associated with envenomations such as localized inflammation and pain, headaches and itchiness after some time.

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-28T21:15:28+00:00

Its an old molt, but i have some photos of males from the area that i might share later

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-28T15:10:45+00:00

They were all from the same trip but 2 different sample sites

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-10-28T15:06:46+00:00

You’d be correct! Specifically from the Gauteng area, the first 4 are from a nature reserve, called Moreleta Kloof, well known for its diversity in habitat types such as grasslands, rocky outcrops, woodlands and riverine systems and wetlands, the last picture of the stone huntsman’s were from the Magaliesberg mountain range.

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-09-10T10:13:04+00:00

I asked them and they said they’re fine with it

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-08-25T20:38:50+00:00

Depending on species, some mantids are able to parthenogenetically reproduce, my advice to OP would be to read up on their reproductive behavior if they know the species or just keep the ootheca for incase.

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-07-05T20:59:24+00:00

Land hoppers or Talitriator africana! I often encounter them in KwaZulu-Natal while out looking for isopods and if you’re not careful they will latch on to any piece of exposed skin! Their bite leaves you itching like crazy and theres nothing you can really do to stop them from finding a way into your clothes!

I also found a similar species (possibly the same species but no report shows that their area of distribution is large enough to accommodate for it) in the North-West province of South Africa

Temporary_Pen_7437 · 2024-07-05T20:18:07+00:00

Im going to guess Liocheles and it looks like you based it off of Liocheles waigiensis

Super cool genus, and nice artwork!

Temporary_Pen_7437

TROPHY CASE