Breeding

Sexing

Sexing life centipedes is not easy, there are no clear signs on the overal look of centipedes to determine their gender. Genitals are situated inside the last segment underneath the ultimate legs. These genitals usually come out upon the centipedes death. Some external differences can be the shape of terminal legs (for example Sc.morsitans males have ridges on the prefemur, femur and tibia) or the pilosity of the ultimate legs (for example male Sc.dalmatica) Other external differences can be a slightly different coloration. Also it's common that females grow bigger and fatter then males.

Female + male F + M Sc.morsitans F + M Sc;candiens matin attemps
couple Scolopendra morsitans female and male #
© scolopendra.be ©scolopendra.be ©scolopendra.be ©scolopendra.be


Mating

When putting 2 scolopendrids together for mating attemps both specimen should be realy well fed and be placed in eclosures with enough space for the animals to walk/run in and with plenty of hidingplaces.
When the couple doesn't seem to be interested in each other or they start to display agressive behaviour it's best to seperate them and try again next time or with other specimen. When male and female are ready to mate the female will let the male approach her. Both female and male will be tapping around intensively with their antennae and try to make contact with eachother.

Foreplay Foreplay Foreplay Spermaphore
Scolopendra gigantea Scolopendra gigantea Scolopendra gigantea Scolopendra gigantea
© Jürgen Herke © Jürgen Herke © Jürgen Herke © Jürgen Herke


After the first contact has been maded, the male usually aproaches the female backwards wich involves getting their terminal legs tangled and a spermaphore being transfered. An other observed behaviour is the male building a spermweb where he lays down a spermaphore for the female to pick up either with her terminal legs or with her mouthparts first.
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