7 Types of Centipedes in Louisiana

7 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in Louisiana. The most frequently recorded are Eastern Bark Centipede, Brown Centipede and Big-leg 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 Louisiana. The most frequently recorded are Eastern Bark Centipede, Brown Centipede and Big-leg Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.

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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist

577 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in Louisiana, most often in April, May, March.

When centipede are recorded in Louisiana

Verified species, source iNaturalist

7 types of centipedes recorded in Louisiana

7 centipede species have a verified observation record in Louisiana, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.

2 of the 7 shown are recorded as introduced to Louisiana rather than native.

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    1

    Eastern Bark Centipede

    Hemiscolopendra marginata

    137 records
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    2

    Brown Centipede

    Lithobius forficatus

    51 recordsIntroduced
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    3

    Big-leg Centipede

    Theatops posticus

    31 records
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    4

    Eastern Red Centipede

    Scolopocryptops sexspinosus

    27 records
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    5

    Giant Desert Centipede

    Scolopendra heros

    14 records
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    6

    House Centipede

    Scutigera coleoptrata

    11 recordsIntroduced
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    7

    Cryptops floridanus

    Cryptops floridanus

    10 records

Plus 6 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.

The Eastern Bark Centipede (Hemiscolopendra marginata) is the most commonly recorded, with 137 verified observations, about 49% of all centipedes reported in Louisiana. If you spot a centipede here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.

Louisiana also hosts less common centipedes such as Brown Centipede, Big-leg Centipede and Eastern Red 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. Brown Centipede and House Centipede are recorded by iNaturalist as introduced in Louisiana rather than native, so they arrived with human help rather than on their own.