Baby Centipede: 5 Pictures and 5 Incredible Facts

We’ve all seen puppies and kittens dozens of times in our lives, but have you ever wondered what baby centipedes look like? The process of maturing for centipedes is incredibly fascinating. While it is entirely different from that of mammals, it’s seldom discussed, and not many people are aware of this unique process. These tiny creatures are easily overlooked, and because of this, their initial stages of development often go unseen. Today, we’ll explore what baby centipedes look like and share some amazing facts about these crawling critters.

Centipedes: A Brief Overview

Centipedes belong to the phylum Arthropoda, which makes them related to insects, but not quite insects themselves. This phylum encompasses insects, arachnids, crustaceans, centipedes, and millipedes. However, centipedes and millipedes belong to a subphylum of their own called Myriapoda. According to Merriam-Webster, the key characteristic of Myriapoda is “having the body made up of numerous similar segments nearly all of which bear true jointed legs.” This is also where their name is derived from. The word “centipede,” is a combination of the Latin word for 100, “centi,” and the Latin word for foot, “pedis.”

Some centipedes lay eggs, whereas other species give birth to live young. This is where the lifecycle of a centipede starts. After entering the world, the larvae will spend much of their life eating and molting, going through six instars, or development stages, along the way. This process takes about two years to complete, and after this point, centipedes are considered mature. Shockingly, centipedes live a very long life compared to their contemporaries. On average, these creatures can live for up to six years.

1. Adult Centipedes and Juvenile Centipedes Have Very Similar Appearances

Unlike other animals, juvenile centipedes share a close resemblance with mature ones. Many people have difficulty telling the difference at a glance if a centipede is actually young or not. Some arthropods have distinct development stages, and their maturity level is apparent. Although they may be smaller in size than their adult counterparts, they share many of the same features otherwise. However, centipedes are unique in this way and it may be difficult for those with an untrained eye to discern their age.

2. Baby Centipedes Grow More Legs as They Mature

While some species of centipedes are born with all the legs they’ll ever have, others grow more and more as they age. It is more typical for baby centipedes to grow additional legs throughout their development, and many are born with only a few legs to start with. Each time the baby centipede sheds its exoskeleton and grows larger, more legs are sure to accompany their bigger body.

3. Baby Centipedes Can Regenerate Broken Legs

Unlike humans, centipedes have the ability to regrow any legs that get damaged or break off. Centipedes are predators, and their diet consists of arthropods, worms, and even other centipedes. It can be risky to hunt while they are young, and as a result, they may suffer a loss of a limb or two. Luckily, they have incredible regenerative power, and their body is able to heal itself.

4. Baby Centipedes are Experts at Hiding

One of the main reasons so few people have seen baby centipedes is due to their incredible hiding capabilities. Unlike other arthropods, centipedes lack a waxy layer on the outside of their skin. This means that they have to put extra effort into retaining their moisture. Because of this, many baby centipedes will prefer to spend their time in moist and dark areas where humans would seldom look.

5. Young Centipedes are Shockingly Smart

Despite their small stature and inexperience, young centipedes are very intelligent. They have an innate desire for survival, and come up with creative strategies to meet their needs. Many young centipedes are born in the summer. Shortly after, when the weather gets colder and food sources become more scarce, they often retreat into residential homes. This is for two reasons: the warmth they provide, and the buffet of insects available to snack on. Spiders, moths, and beetles all have the same idea, and provide centipedes with a large amount of food to sustain themselves with. In addition, centipedes show little fear when facing off against dangerous insects, such as wasps. They know that as long as they stay hidden, they’ll have everything they need to survive the cold weather.

Final Thoughts

Centipedes are wonderful and intelligent animals that tend to get overlooked. It’s not uncommon for people to be fearful or grossed out by these arthropods, but the truth is that they have many talents and uncommon qualities. Because baby centipedes are mysterious and a bit elusive, spotting one in your day-to-day life may be a difficult task. Despite this, they play an important role in our ecosystem and fulfill it happily from the shadows.