This chapter is concerned primarily with responses to such stimuli as light, sound, chemicals and touch. Other aspects of behaviour are discussed in the appropriate chapter: locomotion in Chapter 2, feeding behaviour in Chapter 10, reproductive behaviour in Chapter 17, defensive behaviour including meeting behaviour in Chapter 19 and rhythms of activity and social behaviour in Chapter 21.

Reactions to light

Plateau (1886) showed that Lithobius forficatus, Necrophloeophagus longicornis, Cryptops hortensis and Cryptops punctatus were negatively phototactic (taxes are directed responses dependent on discrimination of the direction of the stimulus). Chilopods in general appear to be negatively phototactic although Demange (1956) noted that in captivity Lithobius piceus gracilitarsus Bröl. does not appear to seek darkness: if the light is not too bright it will leave its hiding place and behaves normally. It hunts in the middle of the day and reproduces in the light. Demange maintained that it was forced underground in order to seek the required humidity.

Klein (1934) showed that Lithobius forficatus ran towards a black screen at the side of an arena (skototaxis). Unilateral blinding did not affect the result. When illuminated from one side it showed a negative phototaxis which overruled the skototaxis. Görner (1959) demonstrated that Lithobius forficatus, Scutigera coleoptrata and Scolopendra cingulata exhibit a skototactic response. Neither Scutigera nor Scolopendra modify their runs when illuminated from the side but L. forficatus reacts to lateral artificial light by a negative phototaxis.