INSECT GLADIATORS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1789, 14 February 1918, Page 1

INSECT GLADIATORS.

SOLDIERS WATCH COMBATS,

Reuter’s special correspondent on the Palestine front s writes; —

Possibly the majority of our troops would be "lad to forego such centipedes in their “bivvies,” blankets, and flea-bags, but there are some who get their own hack on these nuisances and pander to their sporting instincts at the same time by organising duels between various selected specimens. Anything more interesting than a mortal combat between a big centipede and a hefty tarantula, or galliodes, is difficult to conceive. It is far more exciting than the ordinary boxing' match. People at home may soon have an opportunity of sharing this sort'of spectacle with our troops, as it is proposed to film some of the contests. The arena is usually the sand-strewu bottom of a good-sized box. The galliodes is a loathlylooking spider about the size of the palm of one’s hand. He is armed with four long, powerful mandibles, which curve downwards, and two feathery antennae which are believed to contain the poison glands. The

centipede may be eight or more inches long. His offensive armament consists of a pair of horny, poisonous nippers capable of inflicting a very ugly wound, and he has a grip of bulldog tenacity. (One poor fellow has been in hospital already, five months under treatment for centipede bite, and secondary suppuration- continues.) In spite of his short • legs as compared with the spider, he is extremely active, and can make short dashes at lightning speed. He can raise himself on his tail and literally hurl himself forward.

MANOEUVRING FOR POSITION,

When two of .these gladiators are dropped into the arena they often spend from ten minutes to a quarter of an hour manoeuvring for position. The object of the galliodes seems to be to get behind-his opponent, and if lie succeeds he breaks the foeman’s back, which spells finis for the centipede. But the latter knows his weak spot, and keeps his tail well out of the way. He swings round as though on a pivot, and keeps his nippers towards the enemy so as not to be outflanked. At the spine time he makes little dashes al the spider, which the latter has to evade by jumping. His purpose is to get a grip somewhere about the neck or shoulders of the galliodes, and once he gets a hold there is no shaking him off. Soon a transparent fluid issues from the wound, and in a little while the spider ceases to struggle, and dies. Given a galliodes and a centipede about equal weight, the chances are. about level as to which comes off victor. Possibly there is a shade of difference in favour of the centipede. His armoured coat of horn makes him less vulnerable. Scorpions seem to have no chance against a galliodes. The latter, if pitted against a scorpion, cleverly nips off his tail, thus rendering him more or less innocuous, and then crushes him to death. I have not had an opportunity of witnessing a duel between scorpion and centipede, but it is probable that the former would have all the worst of it. Our men are always interested in the suicidal tendencies of the scorpion if he finds himself surrounded by flames or any other impassable and menacing barrier. lie invariably turns his sting against himself and poisons himself to death. He commits this form of harikari in so determined a manner that there seems little room for doubt that it is a deliberate adt and not a consequence of some reflex action over which he has no control.