Are There Centipedes in South Dakota?
Yes, centipedes live throughout South Dakota, though they are most common indoors and in damp areas. The house centipede is the primary species encountered in the state's homes and buildings. These small, quick arthropods have venom but pose virtually no health risk to people. Bites are extraordinarily rare and cause only minor discomfort.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated July 22, 2026.
Strigamia bothriopus · Judy Gallagher CC BY-SA
Common Desert Centipede · Public domain CC0
Common Desert Centipede · Evrytte Carlson CC BY
- 8
- species recorded
- 25
- GBIF records
- June, May, August
- peak months
Yes, centipedes are in South Dakota. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
2 types of centipedes recorded in South Dakota
2 centipede species have a verified observation record in South Dakota, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
2 of the 2 shown are recorded as introduced to South Dakota rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
Plus 3 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
119 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in South Dakota, most often in June, May, August.
When centipede are recorded in South Dakota
Yes, centipedes live throughout South Dakota, though they are most common indoors and in damp areas. The house centipede is the primary species encountered in the state's homes and buildings. These small, quick arthropods have venom but pose virtually no health risk to people. Bites are extraordinarily rare and cause only minor discomfort.
Are They in South Dakota?
Centipedes are well established throughout South Dakota, from the Black Hills to the eastern plains. The house centipede is the most common species found indoors and in damp basements statewide. Native centipedes also inhabit South Dakota's forests, grasslands, and gardens, though in lower densities than house centipedes. South Dakota's dry climate makes centipedes less abundant outdoors compared to more humid states. Indoors, however, they thrive year-round in basements, crawl spaces, and other damp areas. South Dakota residents encounter centipedes regularly in homes, particularly in older basements. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household insects like silverfish and roaches. Learn more aboutCentipedes in South Dakotaand understand the species in your area.
How Dangerous Are They?
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in South Dakota and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. The house centipede, which is the species South Dakota residents encounter most often, has venom designed for small insects, not large mammals. A bite would produce sharp pain for a few minutes, similar to a bee sting, then fade rapidly. Minor localized redness or swelling is uncommon and typically resolves within hours. No deaths from centipede bites have ever occurred in South Dakota or anywhere in the United States. Allergic reactions are extraordinarily rare. Centipedes actively avoid confrontation with people and run away when threatened. They bite only if directly threatened, crushed, or trapped. Your lifetime risk of being bitten by a centipede in South Dakota is vanishingly low. Medical professionals in South Dakota have documented that centipede bites almost never require professional care.
How to Recognize One
South Dakota's house centipedes are small, typically under one and a half inches long, with flattened bodies and numerous pairs of thin legs. They are tan, yellowish-brown, or light brown with darker longitudinal stripes running along their bodies. Long, prominent antennae extend from their head, and they move with a distinctive fast, erratic darting style. Larger native centipedes found in South Dakota forests are brown or reddish-brown and somewhat longer. All centipedes have exactly one pair of legs per body segment, which distinguishes them from millipedes. When you spot a fast-moving arthropod with many legs and prominent antennae in your South Dakota home or garden, you have likely found a centipede. CheckSouth Dakota wildlifefor more information. They actively avoid light and hide in dark, damp spaces. Their speed often startles people, but this rapid movement is actually an escape response.
What to Do If You Are Bitten or Stung
If a centipede bites you in South Dakota, remain calm and keep the bitten area still. Wash it immediately with soap and water. Remove any nearby rings or tight bracelets in case minor swelling develops, though swelling is uncommon. A cold compress can help ease discomfort if desired. Most centipede bites resolve completely within minutes without any treatment. Seek medical attention only if you experience unusual symptoms or if your immune system is compromised. This is general information, not medical advice; if you are bitten, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 if symptoms are severe. Do not apply tourniquets, cut the wound, or use any aggressive field treatment. Allow the bite to heal naturally without intervention. South Dakota poison control specialists and medical professionals confirm that centipede bites almost never require professional medical care.
How to Prevent Encounters
Reduce centipedes in your South Dakota home by sealing cracks and gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and baseboards. Control moisture, which centipedes actively seek despite South Dakota's generally dry climate. Use a dehumidifier in basements and crawl spaces where moisture accumulates. Fix any water leaks promptly. Declutter your home and store items in sealed plastic containers rather than open boxes. Keep your yard tidy by clearing dead leaves, woodpiles, and mulch away from your home's foundation. South Dakota winters drive many creatures indoors, so fall is a good time to seal entry points. Shake out shoes and outdoor clothing before wearing. When hiking South Dakota trails and Black Hills forests, wear closed-toe shoes. Check your skin and clothing after outdoor activities. For more wildlife management guidance, visitour wildlife guides. Use sticky traps to monitor centipedes without killing them.
Where in South Dakota and When
Centipedes are found throughout South Dakota, from the Black Hills in the west to the eastern plains. They thrive most in areas with some moisture, like stream valleys, forests, and humid basements. Indoors, basements and bathrooms are prime centipede habitats regardless of region. Outdoors, search under rocks, fallen logs, and leaf litter in South Dakota's Black Hills and forested areas. Centipedes are active outdoors during South Dakota's warmer months, primarily June through August. They are particularly active on warm, humid evenings and nights. Activity peaks after rainfall when soil moisture increases. The house centipede remains active inside heated South Dakota homes year-round, even during the state's cold, harsh winters. Fall and spring bring increased indoor sightings as centipedes seek the stable temperatures and moisture of buildings. Winter outdoor activity essentially ceases as centipedes retreat into protected soil and woodpiles.
Harmless Lookalikes
Many arthropods South Dakota residents encounter are harmless and often confused with centipedes. Millipedes are found in South Dakota and have two pairs of legs per body segment. They move slowly and deliberately and never bite, eating only plant material. Silverfish are small, silvery, and fast-moving but have only three visible appendages and far fewer legs than centipedes. Sowbugs and pill bugs curl into balls and are gray or brown. None of these pose health risks. Earwigs have pincers but cannot bite meaningfully and are harmless. If you find a fast-moving, flat-bodied creature with many legs and long antennae in South Dakota, it is almost certainly a centipede. Learning to identify these harmless lookalikes helps South Dakota residents feel more confident in their homes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are centipedes deadly in South Dakota? No. Centipedes are not deadly to humans, even the larger native species found in South Dakota. Their venom is harmless to people. How common are centipede bites in South Dakota? Centipede bites are exceptionally rare. Most South Dakotans go their entire lives without being bitten. What attracts centipedes to a South Dakota house? Moisture and the presence of other insects attract centipedes most strongly. Basements and bathrooms provide ideal conditions. What should I do if I see one? Leave it alone or gently guide it outside using paper or cardboard. Centipedes in your South Dakota home benefit you by eating household pests and insects like silverfish. For more details, checkmore on Centipedes in South DakotaandSouth Dakota wildlife guide.
Plan your trip
Best time to see centipede in South Dakota: June, May, August
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your centipede sighting in South Dakota
25 verified centipede records have been logged in South Dakota, most recently in 2025. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in South Dakota
- Badlands National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Jewel Cave National Monument · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Missouri National Recreational River · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Wind Cave National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Minuteman Missile National Historic Site · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are They in South Dakota?+
Centipedes are well established throughout South Dakota, from the Black Hills to the eastern plains. The house centipede is the most common species found indoors and in damp basements statewide. Native centipedes also inhabit South Dakota's forests, grasslands, and gardens, though in lower densities than house centipedes. South Dakota's dry climate makes centipedes less abundant outdoors compared to more humid states. Indoors, however, they thrive year-round in basements, crawl spaces, and other damp areas. South Dakota residents encounter centipedes regularly in homes, particularly in older basements. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household insects like silverfish and roaches. Learn more aboutCentipedes in South Dakotaand understand the species in your area.
How Dangerous Are They?+
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in South Dakota and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. The house centipede, which is the species South Dakota residents encounter most often, has venom designed for small insects, not large mammals. A bite would produce sharp pain for a few minutes, similar to a bee sting, then fade rapidly. Minor localized redness or swelling is uncommon and typically resolves within hours. No deaths from centipede bites have ever occurred in South Dakota or anywhere in the United States. Allergic reactions are extraordinarily rare. Centipedes actively avoid confrontation with people and run away when threatened. They bite only if directly threatened, crushed, or trapped. Your lifetime risk of being bitten by a centipede in South Dakota is vanishingly low. Medical professionals in South Dakota have documented that centipede bites almost never require professional care.
More wildlife in South Dakota