8 Dangerous Centipedes You’ll Find in Your Texas Home

You’re reaching for that box in your garage when something with lightning-fast legs scurries across your hand. In Texas, that something could pack a venomous bite capable of sending you to the emergency room.

While most people worry about scorpions and spiders, Texas centipedes pose an equally serious threat that’s hiding in plain sight throughout your home.

These ancient predators have been perfecting their hunting techniques for over 400 million years, and they’ve chosen your house as their newest territory.

From the giant red-headed centipede that can grow longer than a pencil to the deceptively small house centipede that moves like a blur across your bathroom wall, Texas hosts some of North America’s most formidable centipede species. You need to know which ones you’re dealing with and how dangerous they really are.

Texas Redheaded Centipede

The Texas redheaded centipede (Scolopendra heros) stands as the undisputed king of dangerous arthropods in your home. This massive predator can reach up to 8 inches in length, making it the largest centipede species in North America and one you definitely don’t want to encounter unprepared.

Pro Tip: Texas redheaded centipedes are most active during warm, humid nights between April and October. Check areas where moisture collects before reaching blindly into dark spaces.

You’ll recognize this centipede by its distinctive reddish-orange head contrasting sharply with its dark, segmented body. Each segment carries a pair of legs, with the front pair modified into powerful venomous claws called forcipules. The body typically displays alternating bands of dark brown or black with lighter edges, creating an unmistakable pattern that serves as nature’s warning sign.

These centipedes prefer hiding in damp areas around your foundation, under rocks, in woodpiles, and inside crawl spaces. During hot Texas summers, they actively seek cooler indoor environments, making basements, bathrooms, and utility rooms prime hunting grounds. Their presence often indicates moisture problems that need addressing.

The venom delivers excruciating pain comparable to a wasp sting but lasting much longer. Symptoms include intense localized pain, swelling, redness, and in severe cases, nausea and dizziness. Medical attention becomes necessary if you experience difficulty breathing, excessive swelling, or signs of allergic reaction.

Important Note: Never attempt to handle a Texas redheaded centipede with bare hands. Their speed and aggressive nature make them unpredictable, and they can inflict multiple bites in seconds.

Tiger Centipede

The tiger centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha) earns its name from the striking banded pattern resembling a tiger’s stripes. This species brings serious danger to Texas homes, particularly in the western regions where rocky terrain provides perfect habitat conditions.

Growing between 4 to 6 inches long, tiger centipedes display remarkable color variation ranging from golden yellow with dark bands to deep reddish-brown with lighter stripes. This adaptability in appearance often confuses homeowners trying to identify what they’ve encountered, but the aggressive behavior remains consistent across all color variations.

Key Insight: Tiger centipedes can live up to 6 years and remember territory patterns, meaning once they establish your home as hunting grounds, they’ll likely return seasonally.

These centipedes excel at finding entry points you’d never consider. They squeeze through gaps under doors, cracks in foundations, and spaces around utility penetrations. Their flattened body design allows passage through openings as narrow as a coin’s thickness, making complete exclusion nearly impossible without professional sealing.

Your garage, shed, and outdoor storage areas provide ideal habitat with their combination of shelter and prey availability. Tiger centipedes hunt other insects, spiders, and even small lizards, so areas with high pest activity attract them consistently. They’re particularly drawn to spaces where crickets and cockroaches congregate.

The bite delivers intense pain lasting several hours, accompanied by significant swelling and redness. Unlike some centipede species, tiger centipedes inject substantial venom amounts, making their bites consistently severe. Research indicates that multiple bites can occur during a single encounter, multiplying the venom dose and symptoms.

Common Mistake: Assuming tiger centipedes only live outdoors. These adaptable predators readily establish indoor territories, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Treatment requires immediate ice application, over-the-counter pain medication, and monitoring for allergic reactions. The bite site often develops a dark center surrounded by expanding redness, which typically resolves within 48-72 hours with proper care.

Eastern Bark Centipede

The eastern bark centipede (Hemiscolopendra marginata) represents a medium-sized threat that many Texas homeowners underestimate. Measuring 2 to 4 inches in length, this species compensates for its smaller size with exceptional speed and an aggressive hunting style that brings it into frequent contact with humans.

You’ll find these centipedes hiding under loose bark, in woodpiles, and beneath outdoor furniture during daylight hours. Their brownish coloration with darker stripes provides excellent camouflage against tree bark and wooden surfaces, making accidental encounters common when you’re working in yards or moving outdoor items.

Eastern bark centipedes demonstrate remarkable climbing abilities, scaling walls and trees with ease. This vertical mobility brings them to unexpected locations like porch ceilings, outdoor light fixtures, and second-story windows. They often fall onto unsuspecting people working below, leading to defensive bites.

Pro Tip: Always wear gloves when handling firewood, moving outdoor furniture, or working around trees where bark centipedes commonly hide.

The bite causes sharp, burning pain similar to a bee sting but with longer duration. Swelling occurs within minutes and can persist for 12-24 hours. While less severe than larger centipede species, eastern bark centipede bites still require attention, especially in individuals with sensitivities to arthropod venom.

These centipedes actively hunt at night, pursuing prey with remarkable determination. They’ll chase insects across considerable distances, often leading them into homes through open doors or windows. Once inside, they continue hunting, making encounters with sleeping family members possible.

Prevention focuses on habitat modification around your home’s perimeter. Remove bark mulch within 3 feet of your foundation, eliminate woodpiles near entrances, and trim vegetation that touches your house’s exterior walls.

Giant Desert Centipede

The giant desert centipede (Scolopendra alternans) makes rare but memorable appearances in western Texas homes. Though uncommon, documented records confirm their presence, and any encounter demands serious attention due to their impressive size and potent venom.

Reaching lengths of 6 to 8 inches, these centipedes rival the Texas redheaded centipede in size but display different coloration patterns. Giant desert centipedes typically show alternating bands of dark and light colors, often with reddish or orange legs that make them visually striking and unmistakable.

Important Note: Due to their rarity in Texas, giant desert centipede encounters often indicate unusual environmental conditions or accidental transportation from other regions.

These centipedes prefer extremely arid conditions, making their appearance in humid Texas environments noteworthy. When they do appear, it’s usually in artificially dry indoor environments like heated basements, attics, or storage areas with low humidity levels.

Their hunting behavior differs significantly from other Texas centipede species. Giant desert centipedes actively pursue prey across open ground rather than ambushing from hiding spots. This behavior increases the likelihood of human encounters, as they don’t immediately flee when exposed to light.

The venom produces intense pain described as similar to a wasp sting but lasting much longer. Swelling can be substantial, and systemic effects including nausea and dizziness have been reported. Medical literature documents cases requiring emergency treatment, particularly in children or individuals with compromised immune systems.

If you encounter a giant desert centipede in your Texas home, document the sighting with photos if safely possible. Wildlife biologists value these records for understanding species distribution patterns and environmental changes affecting arthropod populations.

Brown Centipede

The brown centipede (Lithobius forficatus) brings European hunting efficiency to Texas homes. This introduced species has adapted remarkably well to local conditions, establishing stable populations in urban and suburban environments throughout the state.

Measuring 1 to 1.5 inches long, brown centipedes might seem less threatening than their larger relatives, but their aggressive nature and tendency to bite repeatedly make them surprisingly dangerous. Their uniform brown coloration helps them blend into soil, mulch, and leaf litter around your home’s foundation.

Key Insight: Brown centipedes are most active during cool, moist conditions, making them particularly problematic during Texas’s mild winters when other arthropods become dormant.

You’ll find these centipedes in gardens, around outdoor water features, and under potted plants. They seek moisture consistently, making irrigation systems and air conditioning condensate areas prime habitat. During dry periods, they migrate indoors seeking water sources, often appearing in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.

Their hunting strategy focuses on soil-dwelling insects and larvae, bringing them into frequent contact with gardening activities. Brown centipedes react aggressively to disturbance, often climbing onto hands and arms before delivering multiple quick bites.

The bite produces sharp, stinging pain with moderate swelling. While less severe than larger species, brown centipede bites can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. The small puncture wounds sometimes develop secondary infections if not properly cleaned and monitored.

Integrated pest management approaches work best for brown centipede control. Focus on moisture reduction, habitat modification, and targeted exclusion rather than broad pesticide applications that can disrupt beneficial predator populations.

House Centipede

The house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) terrorizes Texas homeowners with its alien appearance and lightning-fast movements. Despite being less venomous than outdoor species, these centipedes create significant anxiety due to their prevalence in indoor spaces and startling behavior patterns.

Growing 1 to 2 inches long with incredibly long, delicate legs, house centipedes move with disturbing speed across walls and ceilings. Their grayish-brown bodies with darker stripes become unmistakable once you’ve seen one, and their ability to lose legs when threatened creates additional confusion during encounters.

Common Mistake: Assuming house centipedes are harmless because they’re smaller. While their bites are less severe, they readily bite when cornered and can cause significant allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

These centipedes actually benefit your home by hunting other pests including spiders, cockroaches, silverfish, and ants. However, their presence often indicates larger pest problems that require attention. House centipedes need substantial prey populations to survive, so their appearance suggests hidden infestations.

You’ll encounter them most frequently in bathrooms during nighttime hours. They hunt actively in darkness, using moisture-rich environments as hunting grounds. Turning on bathroom lights often reveals them frozen momentarily before they dart toward dark corners or drain openings.

The bite feels like a sharp pinch followed by mild burning sensation. Swelling is typically minimal, and pain subsides within a few hours. However, some individuals develop contact dermatitis from centipede secretions, creating raised, itchy welts that persist for several days.

Prevention requires comprehensive moisture control and pest reduction throughout your home. Install bathroom exhaust fans, repair plumbing leaks, use dehumidifiers in basements, and address any conditions attracting their prey species.

House centipedes live 3-7 years and establish territory patterns within homes. Once they identify reliable hunting areas, they return consistently, making long-term prevention essential for permanent control.

Bark Centipede

Bark centipedes (Anephelodes species group, small Scolopocryptopidae) represent the smaller but persistent threat lurking in Texas homes. These diminutive predators compensate for their 0.5 to 1.5-inch size with remarkable hunting efficiency and an aggressive response to human contact.

Their slender, flexible bodies allow access to incredibly tight spaces where larger centipedes cannot venture. You’ll find them inside wall voids, under baseboards, and within electrical outlet boxes. This ability to colonize hidden areas makes them particularly problematic, as populations can establish without immediate detection.

Pro Tip: Bark centipedes often indicate moisture problems within wall cavities. Their presence suggests investigating for plumbing leaks, poor ventilation, or exterior water intrusion.

These centipedes display remarkable climbing abilities, scaling smooth surfaces with ease. They frequently appear on bedroom walls during nighttime hours, dropping onto beds and creating startling encounters. Their small size allows them to hide within bedding and clothing, leading to bites during sleep or dressing.

The bite produces sharp, localized pain similar to an ant sting but with longer duration. While individual bites are manageable, bark centipedes often deliver multiple bites in quick succession when trapped against skin. This behavior creates clusters of painful punctures that can become inflamed and itchy.

Their diet consists primarily of tiny insects, mites, and insect eggs found within your home’s hidden spaces. This makes them beneficial predators in small numbers, but populations can grow rapidly when conditions favor their prey species.

Treatment focuses on exclusion and moisture control rather than pesticide applications. Seal cracks around baseboards, install weatherstripping around windows and doors, and ensure proper ventilation in all rooms. Professional inspection may be necessary to identify entry points and moisture sources within wall systems.

Bark centipedes serve as indicator species for overall home maintenance needs. Their successful colonization suggests conditions that also favor more serious pest problems including termites, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles.

Stone Centipedes

Stone centipedes (Geophilomorpha species) complete the roster of dangerous Texas centipedes with their soil-dwelling lifestyle and surprising ability to infiltrate home foundations. These slender, thread-like arthropods stretch 1 to 4 inches in length but remain extremely thin, allowing passage through microscopic cracks and gaps.

You’ll rarely see stone centipedes above ground during daylight hours. They spend most of their lives tunneling through soil around your home’s foundation, hunting small insects and larvae in underground environments. However, they readily move indoors through foundation cracks, basement floor gaps, and sump pump installations.

Their elongated, segmented bodies contain 30-50+ pairs of legs, creating undulating movement patterns that distinguish them from other centipede species. Color ranges from pale yellow to deep brown, often with subtle striping that provides camouflage in soil environments.

Key Insight: Stone centipedes can survive in surprisingly dry conditions by creating moisture-rich microenvironments within their tunnel systems. This adaptation allows them to persist in Texas homes even during drought conditions.

These centipedes become problematic in homes with basement spaces, crawl areas, or slab-on-grade foundations with moisture issues. They follow water sources, making plumbing penetrations and utility entries common invasion routes. Once inside, they hunt in dark, humid spaces like utility rooms and storage areas.

The bite produces mild to moderate pain with minimal swelling. However, stone centipedes possess the unusual ability to inject venom continuously during extended contact, making prolonged exposure more dangerous than brief encounters. This characteristic makes them particularly problematic when trapped inside clothing or bedding.

Their presence indicates significant moisture problems requiring immediate attention. Stone centipedes need consistent humidity to survive, so their indoor appearance suggests water intrusion, poor drainage, or foundation moisture issues that threaten your home’s structural integrity.

Important Note: Stone centipedes often serve as early warning indicators for more serious foundation problems including water damage, poor drainage, and conditions favoring termite infestations.

Prevention requires comprehensive foundation maintenance including proper grading, gutter systems, and moisture barriers. Professional waterproofing may be necessary in severe cases where stone centipedes establish large indoor populations.

Conclusion

Texas centipedes pose real dangers that require serious attention and proactive prevention. From the massive Texas redheaded centipede capable of sending you to the emergency room to the tiny bark centipede that can colonize your walls undetected, these ancient predators have adapted perfectly to life in and around your home.

Success in centipede prevention comes from understanding their specific needs and eliminating the conditions that attract them. Focus on moisture control, habitat modification around your foundation, and regular inspection of areas where they commonly hide. Remember that centipedes indicate the presence of other pest problems, so comprehensive pest management approaches work better than targeting centipedes alone.

When you encounter any of these species, treat them with appropriate respect for their venomous capabilities. Seek medical attention for bites from larger species, especially if you experience severe pain, excessive swelling, or signs of allergic reaction. With proper knowledge and prevention strategies, you can protect your family from these dangerous Texas centipedes while maintaining the natural balance that keeps more serious pest problems under control.