Centipedes are photophobic, lie down during the day and come out at night. It requires and likes dark, humid, warm (10℃-27℃) and ventilated places. At a certain temperature, the water loss of centipede is negatively correlated with air humidity, that is, the greater the relative humidity of air, the faster the water loss of centipede. Sunlight is not good for reclusive centipedes. Light can increase the ambient temperature and reduce the relative humidity, which directly affects the centipede's water loss. The hard part of centipede's body surface is exoskeleton. When the body temperature of centipede does not exceed the critical temperature, its epidermis is impervious to water. Under normal circumstances, the loss of water in centipede body is carried out through the valve. The valve is the gateway for centipede to exchange gas with the outside world. The valve structure of centipede is very simple, that of Scutella is complex, and that of centipede is even more complex (the valve margin is in the shape of Yangtze River Delta, and the whole valve is divided into vestibule and inner cup, and one valve between them splits into three pieces). Generally speaking, the valve structure of centipede can effectively prevent the loss of water in the body, but the valve of centipede is much more primitive than that of insects. The insect valve has a valve, which can not only control the gas in and out, but also adjust the throttle valve to prevent excessive water loss. . The valve of centipede has no valve, so it can't effectively control the loss of water in the body. Fortunately, there is another way for centipede to prevent water from losing too quickly: its long, narrow and flat shape allows it to lurk in deep underground holes or deep cracks in stones. When the temperature is right and the air humidity is right, it moves to the ground to hunt.
Staying at home during the day and going out at night is the main lifestyle of centipede, which is closely related to centipede's vision, body shape and mode of action. Medicinal centipede has only four pairs of tiny monocular eyes, so it can't form images of external objects, and its vision deteriorates, especially during the day. During the day, the two centipedes can't find each other, and they avoid each other until their antennae meet. Of course, centipedes have better eyesight at night than during the day. On a clear and windless night, 20-23 o'clock is the peak of centipede hunting. When going out at night, centipedes swing their tentacles from time to time to look for food such as crickets, locusts, cockroaches, scarabs, spiders, earthworms and snails. Scolopes' long, narrow and flat body can sneak into narrow gaps sideways, and its flat head and poisonous jaw can also catch prey in extremely limited space; When the centipede moves fast, its long and narrow body will deviate from its forward goal because of swinging from side to side. If the centipede moves during the day, its attack on its prey is not accurate and fast enough, and it is easy to be attacked by the enemy. The natural enemies that attack centipedes are ants, skinks, birds and mice. Young centipedes or peeled centipedes are often attacked by ants because of their weak chitin, which leads to the death of centipedes. Skink (a reptile with four legs and a long tail 1) often eats centipedes in the wild; Blue flies, kingfishers, domestic chickens and mice also prey on centipedes. Therefore, the lifestyle of not sleeping during the day and coming out at night is of special significance to centipede.