Are There Centipedes in Texas?
Yes, centipedes are common throughout Texas, from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle. Multiple species thrive in the state's warm climate, including the house centipede and larger native species. Some Texas centipedes are significantly larger than northern species. These arthropods have venom but rarely bite humans. Bites cause minor discomfort and are exceptionally uncommon.
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
- 5,608
- GBIF records
- April, May, March
- peak months
Yes, centipedes are in Texas. Next you'll want:
Verified species, source iNaturalist
15 types of centipedes recorded in Texas
15 centipede species have a verified observation record in Texas, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
3 of the 15 shown are recorded as introduced to Texas rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
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- No openly licensed photo yet6
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Orange-spotted House Centipede
Scutigera buda
154 records - No openly licensed photo yet8
Florida Blue Centipede
Scolopendra viridis
147 records - No openly licensed photo yet9
Big-leg Centipede
Theatops posticus
119 records - No openly licensed photo yet10
Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus
Arthrorhabdus pygmaeus
112 records - No openly licensed photo yet11
- No openly licensed photo yet12
Also recorded in Texas
| # | Species | Scientific name | Records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Diamondback Soil CentipedeGeophilus vittatus | Geophilus vittatus | 19 |
| 14 | Eastern Red CentipedeScolopocryptops sexspinosus | Scolopocryptops sexspinosus | 13 |
| 15 | Scolopocryptops rubiginosusScolopocryptops rubiginosus | Scolopocryptops rubiginosus | 10 |
Plus 16 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
10,492 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in Texas, most often in April, May, March.
When centipede are recorded in Texas
Yes, centipedes are common throughout Texas, from the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle. Multiple species thrive in the state's warm climate, including the house centipede and larger native species. Some Texas centipedes are significantly larger than northern species. These arthropods have venom but rarely bite humans. Bites cause minor discomfort and are exceptionally uncommon.
Are They in Texas?
Centipedes are abundant throughout Texas, from the humid Gulf Coast to the dry western desert regions. Multiple centipede species thrive in the state's warm climate and varied habitats. The common house centipede is found statewide in homes and buildings. Larger native centipedes, including some Texas redleg centipedes and other scolopendromorphs, inhabit the state's forests, grasslands, deserts, and gardens. Texas has more centipede species diversity than most northern states due to its vast size and varied climates. Texas residents throughout the state encounter centipedes regularly, particularly in spring and summer. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household and garden pests. Learn more aboutCentipedes in Texasto understand the species living in your region.
How Dangerous Are They?
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in Texas and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. Even Texas's larger centipede species have venom designed for small prey, not large animals like humans. A bite would produce sharp pain for several minutes, similar to a bee sting, then fade quickly. The larger Texas species might cause slightly more localized pain and swelling than house centipedes, but serious complications remain extraordinarily rare. Minor localized redness or swelling typically resolves within hours. No deaths from centipede bites have ever occurred in Texas or the United States. Allergic reactions are extraordinarily rare even with larger species. 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 Texas is vanishingly low.
How to Recognize One
Texas 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, erratic darting movements. Larger Texas centipede species can reach three to eight inches long or more. Some Texas centipedes are reddish-brown or dark brown. All centipedes have exactly one pair of legs per body segment, distinguishing them from millipedes. When you see a fast-moving arthropod with many legs and prominent antennae in Texas, you have likely found a centipede. Learn more aboutTexas wildlifeto identify local species. They actively avoid light and hide in dark, damp spaces. Their speed often startles people, but this movement is actually escape behavior.
What to Do If You Are Bitten or Stung
If a centipede bites you in Texas, 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. A cold compress or ice pack can ease discomfort if desired. Most centipede bites resolve completely within minutes or several hours 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. Texas poison control specialists and medical professionals confirm that centipede bites almost never require professional medical intervention, even with larger species.
How to Prevent Encounters
Reduce centipedes in your Texas home by sealing cracks and gaps around doors, windows, pipes, and baseboards. Control moisture, which centipedes actively seek throughout Texas. Use a dehumidifier in basements and crawl spaces where moisture accumulates. Fix any water leaks immediately. Declutter your home and store items in sealed plastic containers. Keep your yard tidy by clearing dead leaves, woodpiles, and mulch away from your home's foundation. In Texas's hot climate, moisture control is especially important around water sources and landscape irrigation. Shake out shoes and outdoor clothing before wearing them, especially after working in gardens or outdoor storage areas. When hiking Texas trails, wear closed-toe shoes and protective clothing. Check your skin and clothing after outdoor activities. For additional wildlife management tips, visitour wildlife guides. Use sticky traps to monitor centipedes without killing them. Centipedes hunt mosquitoes and other household pests, providing valuable benefits.
Where in Texas and When
Centipedes are found throughout Texas, from the Gulf Coast near Houston and Corpus Christi to the Panhandle to the western mountains. They thrive in moist habitats near the Colorado River, Brazos River, and streams across the state. Indoors, basements, bathrooms, and damp crawl spaces are prime centipede locations. Outdoors, search under rocks, fallen logs, leaf litter, and woodpiles throughout Texas. Centipedes are active outdoors during much of the year in Texas's warm climate. They are particularly active during spring, summer, and early fall, especially from March through November. Activity peaks on warm, humid evenings and after rain. The house centipede remains active inside air-conditioned Texas homes year-round. Even in winter, when outdoor activity slows, indoor populations remain active. Larger Texas centipedes are active seasonally depending on local climate and habitat.
Harmless Lookalikes
Many arthropods Texas residents encounter are harmless and often confused with centipedes. Millipedes are common throughout Texas 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 are harmless. Scorpions are sometimes confused with centipedes but look very different with pincers and a curved tail. If you find a fast-moving, flat-bodied creature with many legs and long antennae in Texas, it is almost certainly a centipede. Learning to identify these lookalikes helps Texas residents feel more confident.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are centipedes deadly in Texas? No. Centipedes are not deadly to humans, even the larger species found in Texas. Their venom is harmless to people. How common are centipede bites in Texas? Centipede bites are exceptionally rare. Most Texans go their entire lives without being bitten. What attracts centipedes to a Texas house? Moisture and the presence of other insects attract centipedes most strongly. Basements, bathrooms, and damp areas 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 Texas home benefit you by eating mosquitoes, roaches, and household pests. For more information, checkmore on Centipedes in Texasand ourTexas wildlife guide.
Plan your trip
Best time to see centipede in Texas: April, May, March
See the month-by-month sighting calendar.
Plan your centipede sighting in Texas
5,608 verified centipede records have been logged in Texas. See the GBIF records.
Where to look in Texas
- Amistad National Recreation Area · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Big Bend National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Big Thicket National Preserve · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Chamizal National Memorial · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Fort Davis National Historic Site · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park · Wildlife Watching, Birdwatching · Find hotels
Frequently asked questions
Are They in Texas?+
Centipedes are abundant throughout Texas, from the humid Gulf Coast to the dry western desert regions. Multiple centipede species thrive in the state's warm climate and varied habitats. The common house centipede is found statewide in homes and buildings. Larger native centipedes, including some Texas redleg centipedes and other scolopendromorphs, inhabit the state's forests, grasslands, deserts, and gardens. Texas has more centipede species diversity than most northern states due to its vast size and varied climates. Texas residents throughout the state encounter centipedes regularly, particularly in spring and summer. These creatures are solitary hunters focused on controlling household and garden pests. Learn more aboutCentipedes in Texasto understand the species living in your region.
How Dangerous Are They?+
Centipede bites are exceptionally rare in Texas and pose minimal medical risk to healthy people. Even Texas's larger centipede species have venom designed for small prey, not large animals like humans. A bite would produce sharp pain for several minutes, similar to a bee sting, then fade quickly. The larger Texas species might cause slightly more localized pain and swelling than house centipedes, but serious complications remain extraordinarily rare. Minor localized redness or swelling typically resolves within hours. No deaths from centipede bites have ever occurred in Texas or the United States. Allergic reactions are extraordinarily rare even with larger species. 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 Texas is vanishingly low.
More wildlife in Texas