Posted on May 26, 2010 - by admin

Australian Centipedes

DISPLAYS THE IMAGE URL SPECIFIED IN THE CUSTOM FIELD
This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series Australian Invertebrates


Chilopoda and the Australian Centipedes

Contrary to popular belief (and indeed their own name!), centipedes don’t necessarily have 100 legs. Unlike millipedes, centipedes have only 1 pair of legs per body segment, whereas millipedes have 2 pairs. Centipedes are carnivorous, feeding on a variety of small animals (including frogs and lizards!), but mainly insects. They catch their prey using their powerful jaws located at the front of the head. The last pair of legs in many centipedes is usually strong and brightly coloured, and although they look quite dangerous they are only used to grasp prey or wave in the air as a defensive display. (more…)


Posted on May 27, 2010 - by admin

Giant Burrowing Cockroach

DISPLAYS THE IMAGE URL SPECIFIED IN THE CUSTOM FIELD
This entry is part 2 of 3 in the series Australian Invertebrates


Macropanesthia rhinoceros or the Giant Burrowing Cockroach

These north-Queensland natives are the biggest cockroaches in the world! These insects really are giants (compared to other cockroaches), growing up to 80,000 micrometres (that’s 8 centimetres) and weighing up to 35,000,000,000 nanograms (about 35 grams). Like a lot of cockroaches, the female Giant Burrowing Cockroach gives birth to up to 30 live young. The babies will stay in the burrow with their mum until they’re old enough to venture out on their own. Being burrowers, these cockroaches have lost the need for flight and so they do not have wings. (more…)


Posted on May 28, 2010 - by admin

Australian Scorpions

DISPLAYS THE IMAGE URL SPECIFIED IN THE CUSTOM FIELD
This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Australian Invertebrates


Scorpiones and The Australian Scorpions

Scorpions are nocturnal, predatory animals that feed on a wide range of invertebrates, such as insects, spiders, and even other scorpions. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. Australian scorpions can be found from the moist coasts all the way into the arid interior. Along the east coast of Queensland, scorpions are often found in and around people’s houses. For unknown reasons, scorpions will glow brightly under ultraviolet light. This makes it very easy for scientists to collect scorpions at night – they just look for the bright green animal when they wave an ultraviolet light around! (more…)