I have always admired millipede. Since I was small. There’s something about the way it moves, the way it curls up into a perfect spiral, and those countless tiny legs. To me it’s one of the most beautiful animals on earth. When I was younger I was so bold. I would see millipede on the ground, use my bare hand and just touch it till it rolls into a ball. Then I’ll pick it up and throw it far away. No fear, no nothing.
That changed when someone told me "millipede irritates skin". That statement entered my head and I started being scared. But today I did small research and remembered what I was told again. Yes, some species of millipede do secrete a liquid that contains hydrogen cyanide as a defense mechanism. Sounds scary, right?. But here’s the truth: it doesn’t harm humans. The liquid can irritate small insects or animals, but for us humans it’s mostly harmless. At worst it might cause mild skin irritation if you have sensitive skin, and that’s it. Till today, I still don’t kill millipede when I see it. I admire it first, then I gently pick it and throw it away from the house. I just love watching it uncurl and walk away slowly. I even heard that in some places people eat certain types of millipede. Yes o, eat it 😎 I haven’t tried it, but I’m curious. If it’s food in some cultures, then maybe one day I’ll taste it too.
So to everyone that is scared of millipede, please stop 😂 It’s totally harmless. It won’t chase you. It won’t bite you. It just wants to mind its business and roll up when it’s scared. Today has been a day of "small creatures, big lessons". I learned why a whole community avoids one type of snail because of a story passed down. And I remembered why I fell in love with millipede as a child and why I still respect it now. Nature is funny like that. The things we fear are sometimes the things we should understand better.
It started this morning with something I’ve been wondering about for years, and tonight ended with me remembering my childhood love for one of the most underrated creatures on earth. Finally, I Got Answers About The "Mystery Snail". Some weeks ago I posted a picture of this small specie of snail here on Steemit. I asked a question that has been on my mind: "Why do some people eat it and some people not eat this snail?" Personally I don’t eat it either, but if you ask me why, I honestly don’t have a scientific reason. I just grew up seeing people around me avoid it, so I avoided it too. Monkey see, monkey do 😅.
A lot of people commented back then. Some said in their village they eat it and it’s very sweet. Some even sent evidence of cooking it. That confused me more because in my area, nobody touches it. So today I decided to go and find out the real gist. I asked one of our elders and also some aunties in the market, and finally I got the answer that has been passed down for generations. According to them, this particular snail is called a "bad snail". The reason? It’s wicked 😎. They said if you put this small snail together with other bigger snails in one container, it will start eating the other snails. But the funny thing is, after eating them, it will still remain the same small size. It doesn’t grow fat. It just destroys and remains like that. Our forefathers believed that made it a bad omen. So they told their children not to eat it, and their children told us. That belief has been transferred down to me and everyone around me till today.
Another story people told me is that it causes cough. But wait for it, some other people said the same snail cures cough 🤣🤣. So which one is it now? Is it causing cough or curing cough? Honestly, after hearing all this, I’m still confused. What does "bad snail" even mean? Is it bad because of what our parents said, or is it bad because God created it that way? 🙄🙄🙄. God created everything, so why should one snail be labeled "bad"?. Right now I picked one to look at it closely and I’m asking myself, "Abeg who Dey chop this thing make I come join you?" 😆 Because I really don’t understand the reason anymore. If other tribes are eating it and they are fine, then maybe the fear is just in our head. For now, I still won’t eat it because old habits die hard. But at least I know where the belief came from. If you also don’t eat this snail in your place, now you know one of the reasons we were told growing up.
