LateComer
06-02-2003, 08:47 AM
Here is a crude sketch. (http://www.people.iup.edu/donspade/uglybug.JPG) We unfortunately did not have a camera when it was spotted.
Location: Ohiopyle State Park in southwestern Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands. It was crawling across a wet bicycle trail after a rain.
Description: It was about 3-4 inches long (Maybe a little longer) and maybe 1/2 inch wide. Dark Black. It had 6 true legs and maybe 8-10 false legs on segments slightly tapering on the tail. On the end of the tail there was another set of what looked like pinchers which opened and closed as it walked and were strong enough to latch on to a small stick. It had large horizontal pinchers on its mouth. When threatened it moved backward by flexing its rear segments.
It looked more like a centipede (because of the multiple segments with false legs) than an insect though it only had 3 pairs of legs. We couldn't tell whether or not it had eyes.
Location: Ohiopyle State Park in southwestern Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands. It was crawling across a wet bicycle trail after a rain.
Description: It was about 3-4 inches long (Maybe a little longer) and maybe 1/2 inch wide. Dark Black. It had 6 true legs and maybe 8-10 false legs on segments slightly tapering on the tail. On the end of the tail there was another set of what looked like pinchers which opened and closed as it walked and were strong enough to latch on to a small stick. It had large horizontal pinchers on its mouth. When threatened it moved backward by flexing its rear segments.
It looked more like a centipede (because of the multiple segments with false legs) than an insect though it only had 3 pairs of legs. We couldn't tell whether or not it had eyes.