Kansas Giant Centipede

My daughter - Grace Anne and I decided to do some snake hunting this weekend in the Flint Hills at Camp Wood YMCA near Emporia, Kansas. We found colorful Milk Snakes, Common Garter Snakes, Ringneck Snakes and lots of Great Plains Skinks (lizards).

One of the most interesting animals we typically find in that area is the Common Desert Centipede also known as the North American Tiger Centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha). These typically grow approx. 4"- 5" in length. Scary to look at but fascinating to watch. The photo above is the specimen we found, taken by Grace Anne.
She also took the photo of the colorful collared lizard at the very top of the blog.

Centipedes use structures called gnathosomes or gnathopods to inject venom into their prey. These are paired pincer-like appendages in front of the legs. The “bite” is actually a pinch. In general, centipedes can live in a wide variety of habitats. They can be found not only in a desert habitat, but also in the tropics, and at the seashore. Desert centipedes are found throughout the southern US including Kansas. They are carnivores eating such foods as insects, lizards, frogs, and rodents. During the daytime desert centipedes will spend their time underground or under rocks concealed from the sun. Although this species typically live in dry terrain they will dry up and die easily if left exposed to the sun. Little is known about life span but estimated they can live 5+ years. 

Interesting fact: Centipede mothers take care of their eggs coiling around and grooming them. They may do this to protect them from mold and bacteria. Once the young hatch, she will care for them for a few more days until they disperse. A great website that shows the mother w/babies - http://cacoseraph.exofire.net/centis/index.php

What happens if you're bitten? I've read the bite can be intensely painful to mildly sore.

Want to see an actual bite and the write up about it?  I searched all over and found this website. If you're squeamish, avoid! 

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?postid=521021#poststop

Next blog - next week

First Toads of Spring

When the weather begins to warm up, the first amphibians I hear are Chorus Frogs and Spring Peepers (see my 3/20 & 3/27 blogs).

Well, toads like it a bit warmer. The American Toad began it's mating calls about 2 weeks ago. I walked by a local pond about 8:00 PM this weekend and they are loud!
Remember, just the males call. This is a relatively small toad, about 2 -3" with a mating call that can best be described as a "trill". Want to hear?
Go to http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0006

American Toads range south in the East to Louisiana, north through Tennessee and Kentucky, west through Indiana to ne. Kansas, and north to Canada. They can be found only in eastern Kansas.

Woodhouse Toads are the largest toads in Kansas, grow 2.5" - 4". If you're outside and see a "big, fat hop-toad" it's probably a Woodhouse. These toads like it even warmer. Typically come out several weeks after the American Toads emerge.
These toads have one of the strangest sounding calls I've heard. Reminds me of a "funny sounding baby wailing".
Listen to the Woodhouse - http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0012

Woodhouse Toads range from e. Montana and North Dakota, south through the plains states to c. Texas, and west of the Rocky Mountains from Idaho south to Colorado and Arizona, with isolated populations in w. Texas, se. California, and the Oregon-Washington border. They are found throughout the state in Kansas.

A sure-fire way to tell them apart other than by size is look at their bellies. American's are the only toad's in Kansas with spots on their bellies. Woodhouse's like all the other Kansas species have plain white bellies.

Next blog - next week

The Eagle has gone Viral!

Chat lines have been buzzing about the webcam - Decorah Eagles.
This is an eagle's nest 80 ft high, built 4 years ago in a cottonwood tree near Decorah, Iowa. Decorah is located in NE Iowa.

Raptor Resource Project maintains the 24 hr. webcam w/sound. You can even watch at night! (The cam switches to infrared)
Watch as the cam pans, tilts and zooms on the parents, babies, surrounding area and even the prey that has been freshly caught.
(I watched flies walk over the carcass of a bunny as it lay in the nest. Remember flies need to eat too!)

Eggs were laid in late Feb. and have been hatching over the last several days. One more egg is expected to hatch in the next couple of days.

122,000 viewers were watching as I typed this blog on Sunday @ 3:30 PM CT.

Look below the cam and read the FAQ's - interesting!
Check it out - http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Next blog - next week

Answers - Second Frog of Spring

Photograph by Suzanne Collins - CNAH

In the Midwest typically the first frog mating call you'll hear is the Boreal Chorus Frog. The SECOND mating call comes shortly after.

This second frog lives throughout the eastern US, north from Canada, south to Central Florida, west to the Kansas/Missouri border. This species doesn't live in Kansas City, but just south of KC along the border to Oklahoma. The mating call sounds like the call of a baby bird. This species can be identified by the faint X on its back. If you see/hear this creature you're lucky. This is a threatened species!

Second frog -  pictured above.

What is this species?
1) Cricket Frog
2) Spring Peeper
3) Leopard Frog
4) None of the above

Answer - #2 - Spring Peeper

What makes this species interesting?
1) Cannibalistic
2) Females lay over 10,000 eggs
3) Males fight for territory
4) All the above

Answer - #3 - Males fight over territory!

Want to hear the mating call of the male spring peeper? http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0014
Hit the listen tab.

Next blog - next week

Second Frog of Spring

Photograph by Suzanne Collins - CNAH

In the Midwest typically the first frog mating call you'll hear is the Boreal Chorus Frog. The SECOND mating call comes shortly after.

This second frog lives throughout the eastern US, north from Canada, south to Central Florida, west to the Kansas/Missouri border. This species doesn't live in Kansas City, but just south of KC along the border to Oklahoma. The mating call sounds like the call of a baby bird. This species can be identified by the faint X on its back. If you see/hear this creature you're lucky. This is a threatened species!

Second frog -  pictured above.

What is this species?
1) Cricket Frog
2) Spring Peeper
3) Leopard Frog
4) None of the above

What makes this species interesting?
1) Cannibalistic
2) Females lay over 10,000 eggs
3) Males fight for territory
4) All the above

Answers to this week's blog in the next several days.

Answers - First Frog of Spring

An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001

An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001



It's been in the 60's and 70's almost all week in Kansas City. Crocuses are starting to bloom and hyacinths are about 2 weeks away from blooming. But what I listen for are the sounds of spring.

The first sound I always listen for is a particular species of frog. This frog lives in eastern and central North America. They call as early as late February in temperatures as low as 35 degrees. I've even heard their mating calls while it's snowing outside! If you live near a roadside ditch, pond or stream you've probably heard these tiny creatures. Males congregate in large numbers (only males call) and can be heard up to a quarter mile away. The call - a "crreek" lasting 1-2 seconds, sounds similar to running your fingers down the length of a comb.

A picture of this amphibian is above.

What is this frog?
A) Bullfrog
B) Cricket Frog
C) Leopard Frog
D) Chorus Frog

Answer - D - The Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)

The reproductive ability of this frog is astounding. How many eggs can the female lay?
A) 500
B) 1000
C) More than 1000

Answer - C - Female can lay up to 1500 eggs!

Want to hear the mating call?
Go to http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recNum=AR0155

NOTE: According to Joe Collins - Co-Author of Amphibians, Reptiles and Turtles of Kansas - http://www.amazon.com/Amphibians-Reptiles-Turtles-Kansas-Collins/dp/0972015450
the Western Chorus Frog name and genus/species has changed to the Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)

Next blog - next week

First Frog of Spring



An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001

An adult specimen from Anderson County, Kansas

Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001



It's been in the 60's and 70's almost all week in Kansas City. Crocuses are starting to bloom and hyacinths are about 2 weeks away from blooming. But what I listen for are the sounds of spring.

The first sound I always listen for is a particular species of frog. This frog lives in eastern and central North America. They call as early as late February in temperatures as low as 35 degrees. I've even heard their mating calls while it's snowing outside! If you live near a roadside ditch, pond or stream you've probably heard these tiny creatures. Males congregate in large numbers (only males call) and can be heard up to a quarter mile away. The call - a "crreek" lasting 1-2 seconds, sounds similar to running your fingers down the length of a comb.

A picture of this amphibian is above.

What is this frog?
A) Bullfrog
B) Cricket Frog
C) Leopard Frog
D) Chorus Frog


The reproductive ability of this frog is astounding. How many eggs can the female lay?
A) 500
B) 1000
C) More than 1000

Answers later this week