7 Types of Centipedes in Arizona
7 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in Arizona. The most frequently recorded are Common Desert Centipede, Giant Desert Centipede and Florida Blue Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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7 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in Arizona. The most frequently recorded are Common Desert Centipede, Giant Desert Centipede and Florida Blue Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
3,413 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in Arizona, most often in August, March, July.
When centipede are recorded in Arizona
Verified species, source iNaturalist
7 types of centipedes recorded in Arizona
7 centipede species have a verified observation record in Arizona, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
1 of the 7 shown is recorded as introduced to Arizona rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
- No openly licensed photo yet3
Florida Blue Centipede
Scolopendra viridis
439 records - No openly licensed photo yet4
- No openly licensed photo yet5
- No openly licensed photo yet6
Big-leg Centipede
Theatops posticus
54 records - No openly licensed photo yet7
Plus 6 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
The Common Desert Centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha) is the most commonly recorded, with 1,544 verified observations, about 52% of all centipedes reported in Arizona. If you spot a centipede here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Arizona also hosts less common centipedes such as Arizona house centipede, Big-leg Centipede and Brown Centipede, each recorded fewer than 100 times. These are the species worth a second look when you are out, since a sighting is more notable.
Not every one of these is originally from here. House Centipede is recorded by iNaturalist as introduced in Arizona rather than native, so it arrived with human help rather than on its own.