Henia vesuviana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Myriapoda
Class: Chilopoda
Order: Geophilomorpha
Family: Dignathodontidae
Genus: Henia
Species:
H. vesuviana
Binomial name
Henia vesuviana
(Newport, 1845)

The white-striped centipede (Henia vesuviana, formerly Chaetechelyne vesuviana), is a species of geophilid centipede belonging to the family Dignathodontidae.[1]

Description

This is a long and slender species, reaching lengths of up to 95 mm (3.7 in) in mainland Europe. It is one of the few geophilomorph species to be identifiable in the field, with a distinct greyish colouration, orange-yellow head and rear, short terminal legs and thick mid-body. It can have anywhere between 57 and 87 leg pairs, with British specimens tending towards the middle of that range. There also exists sexual dimorphism in leg count, with males generally having fewer legs than females. It gains its common name from the distinct white dorsal blood vessel running along the length of the body.[2]

Behaviour

This species spends the day under cover such as logs and stones, often curled up in a ball with its underside facing outward.[2] It is able to secrete a sticky liquid from the ventral side of its segments when attacked, as demonstrated by an experiment conducted with the devil's coach horse beetle (Ocypus olens).[3] Not much is known of its diet, but it has been observed feeding on a millipede of the family Blaniulidae.[4]

Habitat and distribution

It is distributed throughout Western Europe, as far east as Austria. In the United Kingdom, it is considered Nationally Scarce, but is fairly frequent in the Greater London area[5] and in coastal regions. It has been shown to prefer urban sites and arable soils.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Centipede Checklist | British Myriapod and Isopod Group". www.bmig.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. 1 2 Barber, A. D. (2008). Key to the identification of British centipedes (1 ed.). Shrewsbury, Shropshire: FSC [Field Studies Council]. ISBN 978-1-85153-242-1. OCLC 318952236.
  3. ↑ Hopkin1, Anger2, Stephen1, Hugh2 (April 1992). "On the Structure and Function of the Glue-Secreting Glands of Henia vesuviana (NEWPORT, 1845) (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha)" (PDF). Berichte des naturwissenschaftlichen-medizinischen Verein Innsbruck. 10: 71–79.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ K, Shreyas (2023-02-08). "White-Striped Centipede (Henia vesuviana)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  5. ↑ "Observations". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  6. ↑ N., Barber, A. D. Keay, A. (1988). Provisional atlas of the centipedes of the British Isles. Biological Records Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood Experimental Station. ISBN 1-870393-08-2. OCLC 636338427.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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