Tongan centipedes, some facts needed!

Hi,

I've read the centipedes in Tonga and South Pacific are potentially dangerous and can bite. What does this actually mean? In case of an angry bite, what should be done if anything, like pouring hot water or vinegar as should be done with marine stingers?

I spotted a fastly moving centipede on the floor of my temporary flat in Nuku'alofa couple of nights ago, while sitting on my bed listening to Pink Floyd's Animals. It was sudden and scary moment as this insect moves so fast and approached my legs! The first time I saw one. It went beneath my bed, until came back, crawled under the wall, came back a minute later and then finally vanished again under the wall. And then I switched off the lights and started to sleep, hehe. Can they climb on beds/sleeping bags or are they "horizontal only"?

How about the black, round and much slower millipede, which I also spotted crawling up the kitchen wall? I grabbed it with a piece of cardboard and took out; trying that with the shuttling centipede might be hilarious.

And also, what is the name of this common spider I can see in bush, between branches and also on telephone poles etc.? It has an easily noticeable white, round back part of its body and its web is yellowish.

Ask the locals about it. They'll know way more than any of us.

I saw a land crab once, which was a surprise. Followed me up to the postoffice.

Asking the locals is naturally the first thing to come to mind. It can be very practical but not on all issues. I actively tried to find out about this matter from several Tongans and long resident palangis alike. The content of answers and given help reached to the levels of “they bite” and “they don’t come inside” and even “why do you wanna see one, it can kill you!”

Also, not all people now much about what is going on in their home country surroundings (or countries in which they travel), bush included. Many people notice that abroad when thinking about their home country as curious foreigners ask about it. If Tongan doesn’t know an answer to your question, they might smile friendly and nod, meaning please do not repeat the question. According to my knowledge, in Tonga and other Polynesian regions to say “no” or “I don’t know” are not always expressed honestly which makes gathering information a challenge.

One palangi answer to my question about what to do in case of a centipede bite was “Pray.”

In that light it is healthy to want to look for knowledge in the wider area of this forum and what the several people might now about couple of things.

I’ll let you know, too, in case I learn something noteworthy about these big bugs.

Until then, I keep on observing those big yellowish spiders that no Tongan or palangi seems to be able to name. At least all this leaves me plenty to study and learn while back in continental life with all the books and internet archives available.

Hi juho,
the best thing to do when you get bitten by a "Molokau" is to put Benadryl or any other cream/gel containing antihistamines on the bite and take antihistamine tablets too, if you have. Hot water only works for protein-based poison, which it solidifies and vinegar is only good to neutralise nematocysts (the sting cells that jellyfish use).
I got bitten by a centipede once while I was asleep - the little beast had actually crept inside my moskito net. That was a nice surprise when I seen it sitting above me on the inside of the net ceiling! I was lucky cause I only got bitten in the knee - there´s not much tissue there, so it was not too painful, but I´ve heard from others that it can be tormenting.
They can move incredibly fast and hard to kill, no shoe or even Mortein spray will do the job. I actually chopped its head off with my machete and the pincers still kept moving for another 2 hours, hence it could still bite.

Ha, I really liked that answer that you should pray, that is so typical for Tonga. Though I´m surprised it came from a palangi!

You don´t have to worry about the reddish-brown or balck milipedes, they´re benevolent. A nuisance in the house, at best.

Unfortunately I cannot tell you the name of the spiders either, they look pretty ugly with their big swollen yellow bodies, but are harmless.

I hope I could shed some light on Tonga´s crawling creatures for you. Stay safe!

Finsnflukes, thank you very much for you reply! That nocturnal story of your sounds totally creepy, among "our most unforgettable wakings." Yes, the speed they possess is almost as unpredictable as if they had wings!

Now I know a few things more, and now I won't fully trust my mosquito net either, heh.

I believe the spiders are a variety of Golden Orb Weaver. According to the Tongans they're harmless, they'll hold them in their hands. Tongans are afraid of geckos though, go figure.

This fellow ?

or

This fellow ?

I had a bite on the my calve while workign in Tonga years ago - - got infected - red,swelled up and a nice hole in the center - - went to the hospital (Nuku'alofa) took a look at the line and got scared away - - an older local lady working at the big hardware store down town fixed me up with a poultice and in a couple days I was cured - -

I had to use the hospital for a blood test for visa purposes. no queues, no problems, fast and efficient service.

The doctor was supposed to be based in the hospital, but Im saw more of him at the Royal Nuku'alofa Club. ;-)

Juho, I would be sh*tting myslef. ;-0

The spider I was talking about and trying to identify is definitely the first one linked by Harry_Mudd and I believe I saw couple of those other ones (second link), too, and they are surely fast! They usually hung around window curtains so it was easy for me just to sweep them outside through an open window behind. Once I also took it outside with a pot and piece of cardboard. They are funny but only for somebody like me who doesn't suffer from arachnophobia..

Greetings from Samoa, for Fins 'n flukes and everyone! I haven't seen Samoan centipedes "yet".

I understand, and it was always me in that house in Nuku'alofa who took care of the spider transportations outside! I've just been fascinated by spiders since a kid. :-O

The centipede bite is definitely painful, but not really dangerous. Kind of like getting bit by a wasp, etc.

Take an antihistamine right away, that will help. Not sure if soaking it in salt might help, but it could.

The pincers bite, but the toxin is actually in their tails. There will be two little holes, then they swing their tails around and cost it with toxin.

The area will swell up a bit, and throb for maybe ten or 15 hours. But it is not really dangerous at all.

In the Cooks, we would always make a point of killing all centipedes we saw, not just chasing them away, or even letting them get away. You'll need a bush knife (machete) or a hand-sized rock, or piece of 2x4, etc. They have kind of an elastic skin that bounces back, so a book, etc., won't do it.

If you know where there are any rubber trees nearby (they have big, dark green, shiny leaves) break off a leaf and let the several drops of sap that come out of it (where it was connected to the tree) go onto the bite area. The sap actually helps get some of the toxin out, and also numbs the area. This works great on wasp bites, mozzie bites, etc., and helps a little with centipede bites.

The small black millipedes are harmless.

Centipedes like to hang out in dark areas, like under rocks, wood piles, downed tree trunks, etc. Also, they climb coconut trees and hang out in the central palm area.

They will climb walls over and next to your bed. I'm surprised they got in through a mozzie net. Tuck it in under the mattress to keep them out.

Insect spray won't kill them, but they don't like and may head away from you.

What a nice message, Thanks Raro!!!