Centipedes in Texas

Large centipedes living in Texas
2species

Tiger centipede, Giant desert centipede.

Tiger centipede
Tiger centipede. Photo: unknown author, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

How to recognize them

Tiger centipede Scolopendra polymorpha

Giant desert centipede Scolopendra heros

We list the large centipedes and the house centipede. Many small centipedes live in every state and are harmless to people.

Counties with records

Potter: Giant desert centipedeCoryell: Giant desert centipedeDonley: Giant desert centipedeBriscoe: Giant desert centipedeBell: Giant desert centipedeSutton: Tiger centipedeUvalde: Giant desert centipedeWilson: Giant desert centipedeLynn: Tiger centipedeMenard: Giant desert centipedeKimble: Giant desert centipedePalo Pinto: Giant desert centipedeEastland: Giant desert centipedeKerr: Giant desert centipede, Tiger centipedeLubbock: Giant desert centipede, Tiger centipedeErath: Giant desert centipedeBlanco: Giant desert centipedeJeff Davis: Giant desert centipede, Tiger centipedeKnox: Giant desert centipedeLlano: Giant desert centipedeCrosby: Giant desert centipedeMcMullen: Giant desert centipedeComal: Giant desert centipedeHill: Giant desert centipedeWilliamson: Giant desert centipedeCalhoun: Giant desert centipedeClay: Giant desert centipedeBrewster: Giant desert centipede, Tiger centipedeBurnet: Giant desert centipedeTravis: Giant desert centipedeSan Saba: Giant desert centipedeWard: Tiger centipedeHidalgo: Giant desert centipedeMills: Giant desert centipedeReeves: Giant desert centipedeHays: Giant desert centipedeReal: Giant desert centipedeTerrell: Giant desert centipedeWebb: Giant desert centipedeVal Verde: Giant desert centipede, Tiger centipedeEl Paso: Tiger centipedeSomervell: Giant desert centipedeCulberson: Giant desert centipede, Tiger centipedeEdwards: Giant desert centipedeBexar: Giant desert centipedeDenton: Giant desert centipedeBandera: Giant desert centipede
Large centipedes with open GBIF records, by county: 47 counties so far. Blank does not mean absent.

Active months

Jan: 4 records (large centipede)JanFeb: 3 records (large centipede)FebMar: 8 records (large centipede)MarApr: 29 records (large centipede)AprMay: 26 records (large centipede)MayJun: 22 records (large centipede)JunJul: 17 records (large centipede)JulAug: 12 records (large centipede)AugSep: 20 records (large centipede)SepOct: 9 records (large centipede)OctNov: 5 records (large centipede)NovDec: 1 records (large centipede)Dec
Open records of large centipedes in Texas by month; most fall in April to June, September.

Harmless large centipedes people mistake for them

Questions

How many large centipedes are in Texas?

2 species live in the state: Tiger centipede and Giant desert centipede.

Which large centipedes in Texas are dangerous?

None of them is considered medically significant for most people. Stings and bites hurt, and allergic reactions are possible.

When are large centipedes most active in Texas?

Most open records fall in April to June, September.

More for Texas

Centipedes in neighboring states