Centipedes in North Texas
Appearance:
- Elongated, flattened body with many segments
- 15 pairs of long, slender legs with pincer-like endings
- Grayish-yellow body with three dark stripes along length
Habitat:
- Common in homes, especially damp areas like basements and bathrooms
- Found outdoors in leaf litter, under stones, humid environments
Diet:
- Carnivorous predators feeding on insects, spiders, silverfish, arthropods
- Use specialized front legs to capture and immobilize prey
Venom:
- Venomous but harmless to humans
- Primarily subdues and immobilizes prey
Appearance:
- Large, 6-8+ inches long
- Reddish-orange head and body with black to dark brown trunk
Legs:
- Approximately 21 pairs of legs
- Last pair serves as sensory appendages
Habitat:
- Found in woodlands, gardens, areas with ground cover
- Nocturnal creatures
Diet:
- Carnivorous predators consuming insects, spiders, small vertebrates, other centipedes
Venom:
- Venomous; subdues prey through venom injection
- Painful bites with localized swelling; not medically significant for most people
