An Overview of the Most Common Types of Centipedes

Centipedes are elongated arthropods that belong to the class Chilopoda. They have one pair of legs per body segment and can range from under 1 inch to over 10 inches long depending on the species.

While the name centipede means “100 legs”, no centipede actually has exactly 100 legs. The number of leg pairs ranges from 15 to 191 pairs. Despite this variation in leg number centipedes are still easily distinguished from millipedes (which have two pairs of legs per body segment) by their faster speed and venomous claws.

There are around 3,300 species of centipedes worldwide. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and inhabit a wide range of environments including deserts, rainforests, caves, beaches, and human homes.

Below are some of the most common types of centipedes you may encounter:

House Centipede

The house centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) is probably the most commonly encountered centipede As the name suggests, this centipede lives in human homes and thrives in damp basements and bathrooms

House centipedes have 15 pairs of very long legs and can move extremely fast across floors and walls. Their bodies are yellowish-grey with three dark stripes on the back. They grow 1-1.5 inches long.

While startling if seen dashing across the floor, house centipedes are considered harmless to humans. They actually benefit us by preying on cockroaches, moths, spiders, and other household pests.

Desert Centipedes

There are a few centipede species adapted to desert environments in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. These include the giant desert centipede (Scolopendra heros), common desert centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha), and Arizona desert centipede (Scolopendra arizonensis).

Desert centipedes can attain lengths over 6 inches. They have flattened bodies with orange, red, or brown coloration. Some species have distinctive black bands circling each body segment.

Desert centipedes deliver painful and venomous stings with the spikes on their hindmost legs. The giant desert centipede is also capable of a strong bite with its fangs.

Bark Centipedes

Bark centipedes in the genus Hemiscolopendra are found under logs and leaf litter in eastern North American forests. They grow 2-3 inches long and are orange, brown, or blue in color.

One common species is the eastern bark centipede (Hemiscolopendra marginata), which ranges from the East Coast to Texas. It has a blue body with yellowish legs.

Bark centipedes can bite to defend themselves. While not medically significant to humans, their venom is stronger than many other North American centipedes.

Cryptopid Centipedes

Cryptopid centipedes in the genus Cryptops have a more worldwide distribution but also occur across North America. They are small centipedes under 2 inches long with orange to brown coloration.

In the western U.S., a common cryptopid is the California cryptopid (Theatops californiensis). In the east, the red-headed centipede (Cryptops hortensis) is widespread. Both can deliver a painful bite with their venomous fangs.

Brown Centipedes

The brown centipede (Lithobius forficatus) is a European species that has been introduced to North America and other parts of the world. As the name suggests, it has a brown body about 1 inch long.

Brown centipedes are common in basements, cellars, and compost piles. While venomous, their small size means they cannot bite through human skin. They prey on small insects and invertebrates.

Giant Centipedes

Tropical regions harbor truly giant centipede species that can attain lengths over 10 inches. One example is the Amazonian giant centipede (Scolopendra gigantea) of South America, which can eat bats, lizards, and rodents.

The most common giant centipede kept as pets is the Vietnamese centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes). It has an orange body with black or blue legs and can grow over 8 inches long. All giant centipedes can deliver an extremely painful sting.

Legless Centipedes

While all centipedes have legs, around 20 species have secondarily lost their legs through evolution. These include the snake centipedes (Oryidae) found in Australia and Southeast Asia. They resemble earthworms but are classified as centipedes based on other anatomical traits.