15 Types of Centipedes in Texas
15 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in Texas. The most frequently recorded are Giant Desert Centipede, Eastern Bark Centipede and Brown Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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15 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in Texas. The most frequently recorded are Giant Desert Centipede, Eastern Bark Centipede and Brown Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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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
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
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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.
The Giant Desert Centipede (Scolopendra heros) is the most commonly recorded, with 3,348 verified observations, about 50% of all centipedes reported in Texas. If you spot a centipede here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Texas also hosts less common centipedes such as Common Schendyla, Garden Lithobius and Diamondback Soil 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, House Centipede and Common Schendyla are recorded by iNaturalist as introduced in Texas rather than native, so they arrived with human help rather than on their own.