Jul 24, 2002 | Q
I think it’s soooo awesome that scientists have found a new species of centipede, and in Central Park, no less. Even cooler, it’s unique enough that it’s being classified as the only species within its very own genus. I’d bet that there’ll be more than the usual number of kids and parents hunting around the Park this weekend, hoping to catch a glimpse of the creepy crawly.
Centipedes have stingers. One might want to be careful in looking for them.
• Posted by: TJ on Jul 24, 2002, 8:07 PMeeeeeeeeeeeeeeegh!
***shivering violently***
I think my lifelong bug-phobia started when I was 2 or so, playing in the sandbox my dad built for me behind our house, la la la la, I look down… and there’s a huge centipede on my arm. Screeeeeeeeeeaming, flailing, running, crying… trauma. Here’s hoping any bug-finders know what they’re in for.
**ugh** **feeling phantom centipede on back of neck**
• Posted by: Lydia Markoff on Jul 25, 2002, 5:25 PMCentral Park is a completely man made environment or so I’ve been told. It has been landscaped and filled to a master design plan. If there are any new species to be “found” there, it is because the importation of materials to Manhatten Island over the centuries. Fruits, vegtables, wood products and various and sundry decoration/furnishing items. All contain insects/creepy crawlies. The only reason that this is a “new” species is because nobody has taken the time and bother to go some misbegotten jungle in Asia, S. America, or Africa, rake up the leaf litter and search for such minutiae. There are too many other species that they are looking for than new centipedes. However, due to the dearth of animal biota (am I saying the right word here?), Central Park is the ideal spot to pull this stunt.
• Posted by: TJ on Jul 25, 2002, 8:04 PMThe article suggests Asia, as that’s the source of the grouping it belongs to.
CP isn’t entirely man-made. Before it was a landscaped park, it was woods and farmland; the city hadn’t extended that far north yet, and they planned ahead wisely. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a “natural” environment; in many ways it’s its own ecosystem, and there’s been increased attention in the last 25 years to its distinct environment and associated wildlife.
Either way it’s kinda cool.
• Posted by: Dan Hartung on Jul 26, 2002, 5:20 PMWow, TJ, that’s a lot of antagonism for a simple species discovery! I don’t think that anyone was using the new centipede to make a qualitative statement about the relative worth of Central Park versus Asia, South America, or Africa; they’re just announcing the first classification of a bug that’s never been classified before.
• Posted by: Jason Levine on Jul 27, 2002, 12:47 AMYes, I understand that Central Park and the canyon lands of NYC (grin) are now the domain of the Peregrin(sp?) Falcon. Not toooo bad! - TJ
• Posted by: TJ on Jul 28, 2002, 11:13 AMThe also recently relocated two bald eagles to the northern tip of Manhattan.
• Posted by: Cameron Barrett on Jul 28, 2002, 12:05 PM