Centipede


Bukitimah

Senior Member
Nov 28, 2010
1,281
7
38
Singapore
Hi, when I 1st started with photography a year back, I took interest with macro. I realized there are so many beautiful insects in sg.

Today, the paper reported that a guy was bitten by a centipede and has to amputate his leg! I wonder if there are sites we can check or at least warn us what are the insects we have to be extra careful. Of course I always try not to touch them. But being macro, sometimes you get real close.
 

Hi, when I 1st started with photography a year back, I took interest with macro. I realized there are so many beautiful insects in sg.

Today, the paper reported that a guy was bitten by a centipede and has to amputate his leg! I wonder if there are sites we can check or at least warn us what are the insects we have to be extra careful. Of course I always try not to touch them. But being macro, sometimes you get real close.

source??
 

know your subject

the fellow likely did nothing after being bitten and the wound festered and turned gangrene which if left untreated needs amputation to avoid death
 

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Yes, best to know what you are photographing. In fact thats part of the joy of increasing the knowledge of these creatures, their nature, habits etc & which help you to take the best shots. Photographing things we know nothing about can be dangerous :)

As to centipedes, can check out Wiki or this article here The American Tarantula Society - Sinister Centipedes. Whatever's the truth, people cannot help but fear the unknown, that which they know little about unless they do some research or study, or have prior knowledge of. Its hard for a person to distinguish whats dangerous or not esp where these "creepy crawlies" are concerned. Centipedes have been portrayed in chinese literature, movies etc to be extremely dangerous & poisonous, like scorpions, something to be feared. Children are taught from young to avoid them, for very good reasons, so the fear often carries on through life. I myself wouldnt touch them with a ten feet pole; except I know they make fantastic meals for my pet arowanas :)
 

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The guy has diabetes, any type of injury is really serious issue for them.
 

centipedes always creeps me out... especially those gigantic ones i saw last time in Thailand when i was posted there for my NS... no joke... its as huge as half an arm's length! no only they comes in all shapes and sizes... colors as well... from blood red, to even blueish looking. I often see their carcass all over the road trampled by the arm vehicles during cold season (oct-Dec).
 

The mortality rate of necrotizing fasciitis is 30% to 40% even with early intervention in medical treatment and 100% if left untreated. A Singaporean man passed away last year after his leg started rotting away, this was after a crab nipped him.

Of course, this affect people who are immmunocompromised more than others.
 

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The guy has diabetes, any type of injury is really serious issue for them.

ditto agree ..... diabetics have to be EXTREMELY careful even with innocent little cuts and pricks

a close relative who is diabetic had a little cut in his toe and did not treat it ............ had to amputate his leg below knee after a year when gangrene spread ............ its too late now as gangrene spreading to his OTHER leg and also needs to amputate
 

ditto agree ..... diabetics have to be EXTREMELY careful even with innocent little cuts and pricks

a close relative who is diabetic had a little cut in his toe and did not treat it ............ had to amputate his leg below knee after a year when gangrene spread ............ its too late now as gangrene spreading to his OTHER leg and also needs to amputate

Unfortunately diabetes is genetic in my family. My old man has it, most of his siblings have it, one of my cousins had it since young.
Luckily I don't have it but have to be careful about diet.