Try for Free
tab list
Picture Insect
English
arrow
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Home Application Download FAQ
English
English
繁體中文
日本語
Español
Français
Deutsch
Pусский
Português
Italiano
한국어
Nederlands
العربية
Icon about
About
Icon about
General Info
Icon about
Search Tips
Icon about
Harmful or Not
Icon about
Harmful Effects
Icon about
Common FAQs
Icon about
Similar Insects
Icon about
Popular Insects
Tiger centipede

Tiger centipede

Scolopendra polymorpha

A species of Centipede, Also known as Sonoran desert centipede, Desert tiger centipede, Banded desert centipede

The tiger centipede (Scolopendra polymorpha) has a combination of orange and black stripes which make them pretty easy to compare with a tiger. However, the size difference is pretty notable. They like to hang out under rocks but have been seen digging underground and hiding under logs.

Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Humans
Toxic to Animals
Toxic to Animals
Bite Humans
Bite Humans
Bite Animals
Bite Animals
General Info About Tiger centipede
Instantly identify insects with a snap
Snap a photo for instant insect ID and risk assessment, gaining quick insights on bite assessment, toxicity, pest control, behavior, habitat, and safe interaction tips, etc.
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
Attributes of Tiger centipede
Colors
Black
Gray
Orange
Habitat
grassland; forest; desert
Adult Food Sources
Insects, spiders, small vertebrates (like lizards and rodents), earthworms, other arthropods
Larva Food Source
Small insects, larvae, dead and decaying organic matter
Biting/stinging
Not reported
Allergy-causing
Not reported
Defensive attack
The Tiger centipede has special defensive behaviors that can trigger an allergic reaction. If there are serious reactions, seek IMMEDIATE medical attention.
Venomous
The Tiger centipede can induce toxic reactions varying in severity. Nevertheless, these toxins primarily target their prey and predators and are usually not fatal to humans.
Non-poisonous
Not reported
Borer
Not reported
Pollinator
Not reported
qrcode
Img download isoImg download android
Rectangle
Adult Size of Tiger centipede
10 - 18 cm
Rectangle
Predators of Tiger centipede Larvae
Frogs, toads, lizards, small mammals like shrews, small avian predators, larger arthropods, spiders
Rectangle
Predators of Adult Tiger centipede
Birds, mammals like shrews, moles, and badgers, large reptiles, large spiders, larger centipedes
Rectangle
Interesting Facts About Tiger centipede
The tiger centipede possesses the uncanny ability to regenerate lost limbs, giving it resilience few predators can overcome.
Rectangle
Scientific Classification of Tiger centipede
Tips for Finding Tiger centipede
Your ultimate guide to understanding insects
Unlock the secrets of insect life cycles, habitats, behaviors and observation tips!!
Download the App for Free
Rectangle
How Can You Attract Tiger centipede
Small insects, such as crickets or mealworms, which are part of tiger centipede's natural diet.
Rectangle
When is the Best Time to Observe Tiger centipede
Nocturnal hours, because tiger centipede is more active and easier to spot during the night when it hunts.
Rectangle
What is the Best Weather to Observe Tiger centipede
Damp conditions after rain, as tiger centipede prefers moist environments and is more likely to come out of hiding.
Rectangle
How and Where Can You Find Tiger centipede at Different Life Stages
Juvenile Tiger centipede juveniles are smaller, but similar in appearance to adults, and can be found under logs, rocks, and in leaf litter. Carefully lift these objects to spot them without causing harm.
Adult Tiger centipede adults are larger and more conspicuous. Search for them at night using a UV flashlight along trails and near water sources where they might come to hunt or hydrate.
Are Tiger centipede harmful?
Your Complete Pest Control Guide
Discover effective tips for preventing and eliminating pest infestations to keep bugs away from your home.
Download the App for Free

The tiger centipede can cause toxic reactions with a wide range of severity. However, the toxins are typically targeted at their prey and predators. They are usually not fatal to humans.

Rectangle

Are Tiger centipede harmful to humans?

Tiger centipede usually live in hidden places in forests or cities, and generally do not actively attack people. However, when it is disturbed, it is likely to bite, and severe pain and swelling will occur after being bitten by it.
Harmful Effects of Tiger centipede
Reveal the harmful impacts of diverse insects
Explore the dangers of insects related to toxicity, lethality, human biting, human stinging, pathogenicity, hematophagy, allergenicity, parasitism, etc.
Download the App for Free
Icon toxic for
Toxic to Humans
Icon toxic for
Toxic to Animals
Icon toxic for
Bite Humans
Rectangle
Toxic to Humans

Tiger centipede possess venomous fangs, known as forcipules, used to inject neurotoxic and cytotoxic venom into their prey, efficiently subduing them. In humans, a bite generally results in mild symptoms, such as local pain and swelling. However, given the presence of potentially harmful toxins, more significant health impacts may ensue, especially in sensitive individuals or through multiple bites. Severe cases may exhibit more troubling symptoms like tissue damage, but such extreme reactions are not commonly reported.

Rectangle
Toxic to Animals

The organism identified as tiger centipede possesses a peculiar means of defense and predatory mechanism by stinging, which can lead to a range of reactions from mild irritation to severe anaphylactic responses, especially in humans. When encountering animals such as dogs, cats, birds, and small mammals, a sting from tiger centipede might cause pain and swelling. Each affected species might experience different symptoms, depending on the amount of venom received and their individual sensitivities. The potency of tiger centipede's sting is most notable in its adult stage.

Rectangle
Bite Humans

Tiger centipede rarely bites humans, usually only in self-defense. The bite involves using forcipules to inject venom, causing immediate pain and mild reactions. Bites typically follow accidental human contact, with adult tiger centipedes having more potent venom than juveniles.

More Effects of Tiger centipede

More Insects that are Similar to Tiger centipede
Orange-footed centipede
Orange-footed centipede

Cormocephalus aurantiipes is a medium-sized centipede, capable of reaching lengths of up to 14 cm, but more commonly found around 10 cm.

Read More
Arrow
Eastern bark centipede
Eastern bark centipede

The eastern bark centipede (Hemiscolopendra marginata) is known for being accidentally caught by surprise, as it tends to live under chunks of bark. Regardless of their frightening appearance, they don't want anything to do with you. If you leave them alone, they are more likely to run around and eat dead bugs rather than ruin your day by stinging you.

Read More
Arrow
Giant centipede
Giant centipede

Head and body length 3.00 to over 6.25 in. The body is long and flattened. Coloration is dark or greenish-brown to orange or orange-yellow with black bands, with yellow legs and antennae; southern specimens tend to have blue or dark antennae.

Read More
Arrow
Giant desert centipede
Giant desert centipede

The giant desert centipede (Scolopendra heros) is otherwise known as the giant redheaded centipede because of its distinct red and greenish-black body. It uses venom to disable its prey and can eat every small rodent. It is colored in such a way that it discourages predators from eating it, not that it would want to be eaten.

Read More
Arrow
Florida keys centipede
Florida keys centipede

The vibrant florida keys centipede is known for its robust, segmented body displaying a dynamic range of color variations that serve as a warning for its potent venomous capability. This creature adapts to a carnivorous diet, preying upon insects, arthropods, and even small vertebrates with impressive precision. Its two modified legs, evolved into venomous forcipules, strike with remarkable speed and accuracy to subdue targets. Primarily nocturnal, this arthropod emerges under the shroud of darkness to assert its role as a formidable predator in its habitat.

Read More
Arrow
Peruvian giant yellow-leg centipede
Peruvian giant yellow-leg centipede

Scolopendra gigantea, also known as the Peruvian giant yellow-leg centipede or Amazonian giant centipede, is one of the largest centipedes of the genus Scolopendra with a length up to 30 centimetres (12 in). This species is found in various places in South America and the Caribbean, where it preys on a wide variety of animals, including other sizable arthropods, amphibians, mammals and reptiles.

Read More
Arrow
Pacific giant centipede
Pacific giant centipede

The pacific giant centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes) is often kept as a pet due to its beautiful appearance. It has a reddish-brown body, which is longer than most human hands. However, they shouldn't be handled because they can deliver a painful bite, which could cause serious swelling. Deaths from these bites are rare though.

Read More
Arrow
Minor blue leg
Minor blue leg

The minor blue leg centipede may be interesting to look at, with its colorful legs and body, but just like other centipedes, it's a venomous insect that can cause harm if it bites. Some insect lovers keep this unique centipede as a pet, usually in a terrarium. This species is found in many tropical locations in the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

Read More
Arrow
Other Popular Insects
Western honey bee
Western honey bee

Western honey bee(Apis mellifera) is the most common species of honeybee in the world. Among the first domesticated insects, its cultural and economic impact on humanity has been vast and far-reaching, providing honey, wax and its services as a pollinator. Western honey bee faces challenges worldwide, such as colony collapse disorder, and populations are thought to be decreasing.

Read More
Arrow
Monarch butterfly
Monarch butterfly

The monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is the most recognizable butterfly in North America. It is best known for its appearance, but should be better known for the fact that it has a 3000-mile migration that takes the butterfly 4 generations to complete. Their diet is also a natural deterrent for predators, as they eat milkweed, a poison that induces vomiting.

Read More
Arrow
Japanese rhinoceros beetle
Japanese rhinoceros beetle

The japanese rhinoceros beetle (Trypoxylus dichotomus) is a massive beetle about the size of the palm of a hand. It's distinguished by its long Y-shaped horn, which it uses to fight other males with. It's a nocturnal bug that feeds on sap and sweet fruits. This species is sometimes kept as a pet due to its unique appearance and simple care requirements.

Read More
Arrow
Silkworm
Silkworm

The silken threads produced by silkworm during its larval stage have been highly coveted for millennia, manifesting as a luxurious fabric in human society. Remarkably, this creature has a singular diet, feeding exclusively on the leaves of its primary host plant from which it extracts the necessary nutrients to facilitate its transition into a non-feeding, winged adult.

Read More
Arrow
Menelaus blue morpho
Menelaus blue morpho

Menelaus blue morpho (Morpho menelaus) is a gorgeous butterfly with large, royal blue wings. Linnaeus named the genus Morpho the Aphrodite-Ancient Greek goddess of love and beauty for its extreme beauty. It is native to tropical rainforests. Though many butterfly gardens now cultivate them in captivity, there are still many people who never get a chance to see them.

Read More
Arrow
Atlas moth
Atlas moth

While the atlas moth (Attacus atlas) can't tell you where to find your country on the map, it does earn its name through other means. It is one of the largest moths in the world, with a wingspan that is far larger than its body, creating an abnormal comparison. In India, their silk is gathered in a non-commercial capacity and is considered to be more durable than the domestic silkworm.

Read More
Arrow
Flying peacock spider
Flying peacock spider

Both sexes reach about 5 mm in body length. Females and immatures of both sexes are brown but have color patterns by which they can be distinguished from related species. Also, the males dance to attract females.

Read More
Arrow
Multicolored asian ladybeetle
Multicolored asian ladybeetle

Often confused for the ladybug, multicolored asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) is a separate species that, unlike the ladybug, is a household pest. It is considered particularly annoying for its habit of returning to places from which it is removed. One of the most variable species in the world, there are many different colors and patterns multicolored asian ladybeetle may display, making identification potentially difficult.

Read More
Arrow