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local Saturday 4 OctOber 2025
Fun facts about the ‘Lisinbein’

The ‘Lisinbein’ (Scolopen- rupt local biodiversity. clean environment for the
dra gigantea), also known eggs by carefully grooming
as the Giant Centipede, Its presence can indicate them, which helps prevent
is one of the largest centi- a healthy, functioning eco- fungal growth that could
pedes in the world and is system. Its sensitivity to envi- endanger the brood. This
found in Aruba. Its size and ronmental changes makes behavior may continue
hunting prowess make it a it a bioindicator of ecologi- until the young centipedes
fascinating, if often misun- cal balance. have undergone their first
derstood, creature. molt, making them more
It can reach an impressive capable of independent
Despite its fearsome repu- length of up to 30 centi- survival.
tation, it plays a crucial meters (approx. 12 inches)
ecological role that often and live for around 5 to 10 This form of parental care is
goes unnoticed: years in the wild. Its size and beneficial in increasing the
longevity makes it a signifi- survival rates of offspring,
As an apex invertebrate cant and long-term part of as the mother’s protection
predator, Scolopendra the ecosystem. provides a safe ‘environ-
gigantea helps maintain ment’ during their vulnera-
balance in the ecosystem. A mother’s love ble developmental stages.
Moreover, they themselves In Scolopendra species, It’s a fascinating adapta-
are a food source for birds the ‘mother’ typically ex- tion because it shows a
such as the Crested Cara- hibits maternal care by form of care that resembles
cara (Warawara) and the curling around her eggs more complex behaviors
Aruba burrowing owl (Sho- and newly hatched young. observed in vertebrates.
co). She stays coiled around
the clutch, protecting it No bark, all bite! unless provoked. Its role as
It controls populations of from predators and fungi, The lisinbein is known local- a guardian of balance in Editor’s note: Information
smaller invertebrates and which are serious risks in the ly for having a really painful the ecosystem helps pro- and pictures provided by
even small vertebrates, en- moist environments these sting. While venomous, the tect the natural beauty of Ms. Natasha Silva from
suring that no species over- centipedes often inhabit. Lisinbein is generally not Aruba by keeping the eco- the Aruba Conservation
populates, which could dis- The mother maintains a aggressive toward humans system in harmony. Foundation.q

Forgotten gems: Open air movie theaters

(Oranjestad)—During the once frequently visited by and was commissioned census office is located. movies at that time.
span of over 100 years, locals and migrants in the by Shon Eduard (Eddy) de The theater was simple; it
Aruba only saw five open 20th century. Veer. This theater was lo- only consisted of a screen, The last and most recent
air movie theaters. Now cated at the Hotel Colom- and visitors had to bring open air theater was con-
practically obsolete on the The first open air theater bia in Oranjestad, which their own chairs to enjoy structed in the form of a
island, these theaters were was constructed in 1920 is now where the Aruban the popular silent movies of drive-in theater. A popular
the time. American concept, the
Drive Inn located in Balashi
American migrants who was a hot spot for teenag-
worked in the refinery and ers, who had the habit of
lived in the Lago Colony cramming all their friends in
in Sero Colorado also had one car to go see the mov-
their piece of the pie with ies. For this phenomenon
their Open air Theatre, there was a separate price
which formed part of the that you had to pay called
Esso Club, also known as the “car crash”.
the Pan-Am Club. It was at
this theater that “Talkies” This theater closed around
were first streamed, mov- 2012, but was re-opened
ies with sound. This theater during the pandemic in
mostly streamed American July 2020, where movies
blockbusters for the Ameri- were streamed on a gigan-
can expats, this way mak- tic screen set up in front of
ing sure that these migrant stacked containers. How-
were not missing out on ever, this nostalgic form of
entertainment from their entertainment did not last
home land. very long as it was closed
again only a year or two
In the 1950’s and 60’s, Sa- later. Nowadays you can
vaneta saw their own open still see the stacked con-
air theater, located in front tainers when you drive near
of the Marinier’s Kazerne the bridge in Balashi. q
(Marine Barracks). This the-
ater was mostly visited by Source: “De kolibrie op de
the neighboring marines, rots en meer over de geschie-
who didn’t have much denis van Aruba” by Evert
Bongers.
entertainment other than