Are There Centipedes in Tennessee?
Yes, centipedes thrive throughout Tennessee, from the Great Smoky Mountains to Memphis. Multiple centipede species live in the state's warm, humid climate, including the common house centipede and larger native species. These arthropods have venom but rarely bite humans. Bites are exceptionally uncommon 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
- 994
- GBIF records
- April, May, June
- peak months
Yes, centipedes are in Tennessee. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
9 types of centipedes recorded in Tennessee
9 centipede species have a verified observation record in Tennessee, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
3 of the 9 shown are recorded as introduced to Tennessee rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
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- No openly licensed photo yet5
- No openly licensed photo yet6
Big-leg Centipede
Theatops posticus
64 records - No openly licensed photo yet7
Blue Belly Centipede
Scolopocryptops nigridius
18 records - No openly licensed photo yet8
- No openly licensed photo yet9
Theatops spinicaudus
Theatops spinicaudus
12 records
Plus 15 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
2,631 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in Tennessee, most often in April, May, June.
When centipede are recorded in Tennessee
Yes, centipedes thrive throughout Tennessee, from the Great Smoky Mountains to Memphis. Multiple centipede species live in the state's warm, humid climate, including the common house centipede and larger native species. These arthropods have venom but rarely bite humans. Bites are exceptionally uncommon and cause only minor discomfort.
Are They in Tennessee?
Centipedes are abundant throughout Tennessee, from the Smoky Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River valley. Multiple centipede species thrive in Tennessee's warm, humid climate. The common house centipede is found statewide in homes, basements, and buildings. Larger native centipedes inhabit Tennessee's forests, gardens, and natural areas. The state's humid subtropical climate in Memphis and Nashville, combined with cooler mountain regions in east Tennessee, all provide ideal centipede habitat. Tennessee residents throughout the state encounter centipedes regularly. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household and garden pests like silverfish and roaches. Learn more aboutCentipedes in Tennesseeto understand which species live in your area.
How Dangerous Are They?
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in Tennessee and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. Even Tennessee's larger centipede species have venom designed for small prey insects, not large animals. A bite would produce sharp pain for several minutes, similar to a bee sting, then fade quickly. Minor localized redness or swelling might develop but typically resolves within hours. No deaths from centipede bites have ever occurred in Tennessee or the United States. Allergic reactions are extraordinarily rare. Centipedes actively avoid confrontation and run away from people. They bite only when directly threatened, crushed, or trapped. Your lifetime risk of being bitten in Tennessee is vanishingly low. Medical professionals throughout Tennessee have documented that centipede bites almost never require professional treatment.
How to Recognize One
Tennessee'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. Long antennae extend from their head, and they move with distinctive fast, darting movements. Larger centipedes found in Tennessee's forests and under logs are brown or reddish-brown and can reach three inches or longer. All centipedes have exactly one pair of legs per body segment. When you see a fast-moving arthropod with many legs and prominent antennae in Tennessee, you have likely found a centipede. Learn more withTennessee wildlife. They actively avoid light and hide in dark, damp spaces like basements, bathrooms, and under logs. 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 Tennessee, stay calm and keep the bitten area still. Wash it immediately with soap and water. Remove any nearby rings or tight bracelets in case swelling develops, though this is uncommon. A cold compress or ice pack can 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 you have an immune system compromise. 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. Tennessee emergency rooms and poison control specialists confirm that centipede bites almost never require professional medical intervention.
How to Prevent Encounters
Reduce centipedes in your Tennessee home by sealing cracks and gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and baseboards. Control moisture, which centipedes actively seek in Tennessee's humid climate. Use a dehumidifier in basements and crawl spaces. Repair any water leaks immediately. 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. Tennessee's humidity makes moisture control especially important. Shake out shoes and outdoor clothing before wearing them. When hiking Tennessee trails and Great Smoky Mountains, wear closed-toe shoes. Check your skin and clothing after outdoor activities. For additional tips, exploreour wildlife guides. Use sticky traps to monitor centipedes without killing them. Remember that centipedes hunt mosquitoes and other household pests, providing valuable benefits.
Where in Tennessee and When
Centipedes are found throughout Tennessee, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River regions. They thrive in moist habitats near the Cumberland River, Tennessee River, and streams across the state. Indoors, basements and bathrooms are prime centipede locations. Outdoors, search under rocks, fallen logs, leaf litter, and woodpiles throughout Tennessee. Centipedes are active outdoors during much of Tennessee's warm season, particularly April through October. They are particularly active during spring and summer when they hunt most aggressively at night. Activity peaks on warm, humid evenings or after rain. The house centipede remains active inside air-conditioned Tennessee homes year-round. Even in winter, indoor populations remain active in heated buildings. Fall brings increased indoor activity as centipedes seek shelter in warming homes across the state.
Harmless Lookalikes
Many arthropods Tennessee residents encounter are harmless and often confused with centipedes. Millipedes are common throughout Tennessee 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. Sowbugs and pill bugs curl into balls when threatened and are gray or brown. None of these pose health risks. Earwigs have pincers but cannot bite meaningfully and pose no danger. If you find a fast-moving, flat-bodied creature with many legs and long antennae in Tennessee, it is almost certainly a centipede. Learning to identify harmless lookalikes helps reduce unnecessary concern among Tennessee residents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are centipedes deadly in Tennessee? No. Centipedes are not deadly to humans, even the larger species found in Tennessee. Their venom is harmless to people. How common are centipede bites in Tennessee? Centipede bites are exceptionally rare. Most Tennesseans go their entire lives without being bitten. What attracts centipedes to a Tennessee house? Moisture and the presence of other insects attract centipedes most strongly. Basements, bathrooms, and damp spaces provide ideal conditions. What should I do if I see one? Leave it alone or gently escort it outside using paper or cardboard. Centipedes in your Tennessee home benefit you by eating mosquitoes and household pests. For more information, checkmore on Centipedes in TennesseeandTennessee wildlife guide.
Plan your trip
Best time to see centipede in Tennessee: April, May, June
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your centipede sighting in Tennessee
994 verified centipede records have been logged in Tennessee, most recently in 2026. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Tennessee
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Cumberland Gap National Historical Park · Wildlife Watching · Find hotels
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Natchez Trace Parkway · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Obed Wild & Scenic River · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are They in Tennessee?+
Centipedes are abundant throughout Tennessee, from the Smoky Mountains in the east to the Mississippi River valley. Multiple centipede species thrive in Tennessee's warm, humid climate. The common house centipede is found statewide in homes, basements, and buildings. Larger native centipedes inhabit Tennessee's forests, gardens, and natural areas. The state's humid subtropical climate in Memphis and Nashville, combined with cooler mountain regions in east Tennessee, all provide ideal centipede habitat. Tennessee residents throughout the state encounter centipedes regularly. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household and garden pests like silverfish and roaches. Learn more aboutCentipedes in Tennesseeto understand which species live in your area.
How Dangerous Are They?+
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in Tennessee and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. Even Tennessee's larger centipede species have venom designed for small prey insects, not large animals. A bite would produce sharp pain for several minutes, similar to a bee sting, then fade quickly. Minor localized redness or swelling might develop but typically resolves within hours. No deaths from centipede bites have ever occurred in Tennessee or the United States. Allergic reactions are extraordinarily rare. Centipedes actively avoid confrontation and run away from people. They bite only when directly threatened, crushed, or trapped. Your lifetime risk of being bitten in Tennessee is vanishingly low. Medical professionals throughout Tennessee have documented that centipede bites almost never require professional treatment.
More wildlife in Tennessee