Giant Redheaded Centipede - Scolopendra heros

Scolopendra heros

Same color variant of S. heros as in the Oklahoma photos. It is the largest-bodied centipede in North America, growing up to 7 inches or so. It ranges from Kansas & southern Missouri to Louisiana, and westward through Texas & New Mexico/eastern Colorado to the Colorado River in Arizona. It ranges southward about 1/4 of the way into Mexico, and has not been authentically found west of the Colorado River in California.

… Rowland Shelley, 7 March, 2007 - 8:45pm

Talked to a guy today who pai

Talked to a guy today who paid $25 for one of those.

… bigGdelta, 3 November, 2005 - 8:00pm

GRHC

I took a six-incher I found out back up to PA this past October to a friend who studies timber rattlers and has a fascination for this kind of thing. He couldn't believe such a beastie existed. He's keeping it in a terrarium and feeding it crickets. He says it is thriving and is now excavating balls of dirt that it rolls around the tank. When it spies a cricket he said it raises the front half of its body like a cobra and "fans" the air with its legs. Then it strikes, and according to him, is "very fast". He said he was going to bring it back next June when he comes to AR for a visit. At the rate he's feeding it, it should be 7-8 inches by then!

I haven't seen anymore of them since the cold nights have set in.

… Terry L McCormick, 3 November, 2005 - 9:51pm

Have any more?

I would be very interested in having one of these too =) Any chance of that?

… webguy, 7 August, 2007 - 2:30am

Size?

Aloha! i was just wondering just about how much time it takes for a Centipede to grow. I live in Hawaii and we have them here . the biggest one i have ever sen was 6-7 inches, Dark Brown. Do you know about how long it takes for a New Born to reach about 4 inches. we have been having them in our house this month due to the rainy season.

we have had 4 in our house in 3 days. It seems that they are attracted to light at night when we watch T. V.. my wife and I have been hit by TWO of them . Both where 4To 5 Inches long. O Gosh the Pain was just INCREDIBLE. I am Disabled. I suffer from Chronic pain due to several FAILED Back Surgeries,hip,elbow,nerve damage ETC. I am VERY Sensitive to this type of pain. Even Morphine can hardly help me with the Pain from these Creatures. My Wife handles it better then me. Please Email me at: boykoalley@yahoo, if you can help me . GOD BLESS and Aloha Hawaiianbob63

… hawaiianbob63, 18 April, 2007 - 6:45pm

GRHC

oops

for some reason my comment went twice. This is a deletion of one of them. Can't find a delete button...

… Terry L McCormick, 3 November, 2005 - 9:51pm

Scolopendra heros

Scolopendra heros "castaneiceps".
And a beautiful one at that!

I don't know much about them, but what I do know is I have seen them in Nacogdoches, Marble Falls, and near Conroe, all in Texas, and near Carlsbad, NM.

Kari J McWest, Canyon, Texas

… Kari J McWest, 13 October, 2005 - 1:30am

S. Heros Photo

Hi Kari!

I agree with your assessment that this heros is "beautiful". I have seen several of these around my home here in Arkansas' river valley area. I was also struck by another writer's observation that my image would make a good art print. So I placed it on www.cafepress.com/bcdphoto where it is custom applied to t-shirts, hats, coffee mugs etc. It really does look good! Centipede-wear for bug lovers...;-)

Thanks for the kind words!

… Terry L McCormick, 13 October, 2005 - 8:50pm

Pretty sure this is

Scolopendromorpha. 21 pairs of legs. I also linked your images since they are the same specimen. Great shots!

… Lynette Schimming, 22 August, 2005 - 5:57am

ID of centipede

Thanks Lynette!

I am not a biologist, but do enjoy nature and photography.
If I see something unusual, I'll try to capture it with a camera.
Then I have all kinds of trouble trying to make an identification!

I just found BugGuide the other day, and I was able to identify a couple of insects I've been wondering about since we moved south. Great site!

I hope to contribute more in the future.

… Terry L McCormick, 22 August, 2005 - 7:52am