5 Types of Centipedes in Washington
5 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in Washington. The most frequently recorded are Brown Centipede, Thorn-tailed Bark Centipede and House Centipede. Here is the full list, ranked by how often each is reported on iNaturalist.
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5 types of centipedes have a verified observation record in Washington. The most frequently recorded are Brown Centipede, Thorn-tailed Bark 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
2,070 verified observations on iNaturalist of centipede have been recorded in Washington, most often in April, May, March.
When centipede are recorded in Washington
Verified species, source iNaturalist
5 types of centipedes recorded in Washington
5 centipede species have a verified observation record in Washington, each with at least 10 confirmed sightings. The full list, ranked by how often each is recorded, is below.
3 of the 5 shown are recorded as introduced to Washington rather than native.
- No openly licensed photo yet1
- No openly licensed photo yet2
Thorn-tailed Bark Centipede
Scolopocryptops spinicaudus
169 records - No openly licensed photo yet3
- No openly licensed photo yet4
- No openly licensed photo yet5
Plus 9 more recorded only rarely (fewer than 10 verified sightings). Counts from verified iNaturalist observations.
The Brown Centipede (Lithobius forficatus) is the most commonly recorded, with 288 verified observations, about 46% of all centipedes reported in Washington. If you spot a centipede here, it is statistically most likely to be this one.
Washington also hosts less common centipedes such as Common Cryptops and Garden Lithobius, 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 Cryptops are recorded by iNaturalist as introduced in Washington rather than native, so they arrived with human help rather than on their own.