Interesting or Unusual Behaviour

[Flutterby]

[100ponder]

Hi,

We were re-potting a orchid that had pine bark growing medium.

In this growing medium were an adult centipede approx 10cm long and lower down a large number of tiny 1cm white centipede babies in a bundel together.

My question is :- Was this adult centipede living with her offspring to protect them ?

Could it be that she will also feed them ?

[okie]

Hmmm... probably laid its eggs in the medium and was "potted " with it , and then remained there , in the nice moist conditions until you found it , while in the meantime the eggs had hatched .
Oh by the way , was it a centipede ( Chilopoda ) , or perhaps a millipede ( Diplopoda ) . People often confuse them .

[Richprins]

Do you have a photo, 100p?

We can send your query on?

But ja...millipede?

[100ponder]

Nee man, regter egte oorkruiper - swarte met rooi pote !
No photos unfortunately.

[okie]

100ponder .

Hmmm... again some more controversy and interesting that you mention Oorkruipers .
In fact , oorkruipers ( Afrikaans ) are called EARWIGS , and these insects actually look completely different .
However I grew up ( and maybe you too ) with centipedes as being oorkruipers

[Richprins]

Ja, sounds like centipede!

[100ponder]

Here is a photo of a identical centipede from a year or two ago :-

[Richprins]

Prof Braack has responded and says he thinks they look after their babies as scorpions do. He has referred us to the expert Jonathan Leeming!

[100ponder]

I suspected such and that is why we immediately repacked the pot without disturbing the bundle of little ones any further and the adult centipede was also returned into the lumps of bark.