Study of Centipedes (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) in Diverse Plantation and Semi-Evergreen Forest of Satara, Western Ghat, Maharashtra

The name ‘centipede’ is derived from the words ‘centi’ meaning hundred and ‘pes’ mean foot.’ The present study aims to understand the diversity and richness of Scolopendromorphs a least studied but common centipedes (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha), Monthly observations were made during January 2022 to December 2023. Centipedes are classified as destructive arthropods under the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda. The present paper deals with the diversity of Centipedes fauna in satara region, the study also surveyed the seasonal periodicity of centipedes in mixed plantations and semi-evergreen to evergreen forests in the Western Ghats, finding that they are restricted to the premonsoon, monsoon and post monsoon seasons. In plantation and high-altitude forests between monsoon and post-monsoon, soil temperature and pH changed significantly among premonsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon periods in all habitats. After twelve months of observation total 04 species of Centipedes belongings to 03 genera namely Scolopendra, Rhysida and Cormocephalus under family Scolopendridae were identified from the study area.