The Greensboro Science Center
GreenHill's Janay Green reached out to a special place where science is presented artfully. Home to many animals and habitats including the aquarium, zoo, and the museum, the Science Center also exhibits what we're featuring today: bugs (but not exactly). We're going to let a professional talk about these interesting inhabitants, why they are not really bugs, and how they are being cared for at the Science Center.
Audrey Niemeyer, what is your role at Greensboro Science Center?
I am a Terrestrial Keeper and take care of the majority of our herp collection, which include; snakes, turtles, amphibians, invertebrates, Komodo Dragons and Aldabra tortoises. I also take of our Slender-Tail Meerkats.
You mentioned you have invertebrate, not bugs. What's the difference?
Here at the Science Center we have Tarantulas, African Millipedes and Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. True bugs are defined by having soft bodies, well-developed antennae and stink glands such as stink bugs. All bugs/insects are invertebrates, we just don’t have true bugs in our collection.
What are the invertebrates you have at the science center?
We have African Millipedes, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, 2 Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantulas & 1 Curly Hair Tarantula.
Where do these animals live?
The African Millipedes are found in the rain forests of subtropical western Africa. The Madagascar roaches are found on the island of Madagascar. The Red-Kneed Tarantulas are found in the deserts and scrubland of Mexico, southwestern US and Panama. The Curly Hair Tarantula is found in Honduras, Nicaragua and part of Costa Rica.
How do you take care of them?
When caring for these animals we want to match their wild habitat as much as possible, so at times that means we spray them down either daily or a few times a week to increase humidity. We change their water daily. When it comes to feeding, our tarantulas are fed crickets weekly. They get between 5-10 crickets (size dependent). Our millipedes and roaches get fed 3 times a week. They receive greens and veggies.
Can you tell us a fun fact or distinctive trait about these creatures?
The African Millipedes are the largest millipede, and there are over 10,000 species. They can also smell and taste with all of their body parts. The Madagascar Hissing Roaches get their name from pushing air through little holes on the side of their body called spiracles. They have a hard exoskeleton and have a black head and brownish body. The Red-Knees burrow holes and ambush their prey rather than spin webs like some other spider species. They are called Red-Knees because they have a patch of orangey-reddish color on the joints of their legs. The Curly Hair Tarantula gets its name from the curly hair it has on its legs. It does have some on its abdomen and body, but to a lesser extent. Like the Red-Knee, the Curly Hair also burrows into the ground to hide.
Will we ever find these in our back yards?
You will not find these invertebrates in your back yard, so you don't have to worry!
We may not see this creepy creature in our own yards, but we can still see it virtually! Check out this video of the African Millipede