6 Types of Centipedes in New Mexico
6 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in New Mexico. The most frequently recorded are Common Desert Centipede, Giant Desert Centipede and House Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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6 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in New Mexico. The most frequently recorded are Common Desert Centipede, Giant Desert Centipede and House Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
1,267 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in New Mexico, most often in September, July, August.
When centipede are recorded in New Mexico
Verified species, source iNaturalist
6 types of centipedes recorded in New Mexico
6 centipede species have a verified observation record in New Mexico, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
1 of the 6 shown is recorded as introduced to New Mexico rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
- No openly licensed photo yet3
- No openly licensed photo yet4
Florida Blue Centipede
Scolopendra viridis
57 records - No openly licensed photo yet5
Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus
Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus
28 records - No openly licensed photo yet6
Plus 9 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 626 verified observations, about 62% of all centipedes reported in New Mexico. If you spot a centipede here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
New Mexico also hosts less common centipedes such as Florida Blue Centipede, Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus 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 New Mexico rather than native, so it arrived with human help rather than on its own.