Centipede Bites: Pictures, Symptoms, First Aid, And More - Healthline

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Bites and Stings

Identifying and Treating a Centipede Bite

Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on September 3, 2025

Identification
Pictures
Symptoms
First aid
Complications
Outlook

Centipede bites can be identified by two puncture marks where they inject their venom into the skin. Some treatments include heat application, ice packs, and medications to reduce pain and swelling.

Centipedes are carnivorous and venomous. They sting and eat their prey, which typically consists of insects and worms. They’re not aggressive toward humans, but may bite you if you provoke them.

Centipede bites can be very painful to people. The larger the centipede, the more painful their bite may be. All centipedes use venom to kill their prey. Centipede bites rarely cause health complications in humans and aren’t typically dangerous or fatal.

However, some centipedes have venom that produces a variety of toxins, including chemicals such as histamine, serotonin, and cardio-depressant toxin-S. While it’s rare for centipede bites to have systemic effects, it’s important to know that these toxins can cause potentially serious allergic reactions in people with allergies to bee and wasp stings, as well as significant cardiovascular and neurologic effects.

Read on to learn more about identifying and treating a centipede bite.

What do centipedes look like?

Centipedes can range in size from under 1 inch to 7 inches long. Centipedes can have as few as 15 pairs of legs or as many as 177. Centipedes always have an odd number of legs.

Centipedes prefer dark, damp places and wet climates, although they can survive in deserts and other dry areas. They can be found practically all over the globe.

In North America, centipedes have adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions, including deserts, swamplands, and urban sprawls. Their habitats include:

They may be found under rotted logs or rocks and in potted plants. They can also be found underwater and in caves, thousands of feet below ground.

How do centipedes bite or sting?

Centipedes bite by puncturing skin with clawed, pointy legs located on their first body segment. They may bite if they’re picked up or handled roughly. They may also bite if you accidentally step on one.

All centipedes have the ability to bite, although some smaller species are not strong enough to puncture human skin.

What does a centipede bite look like?

What are the symptoms of a centipede bite?

Centipede bites can be identified by two puncture marks where they inject their venom into the skin. The area around the bite may become red and swollen.

The amount of pain you feel will be determined by the amount of venom injected into the bite. Smaller centipedes deliver very little venom. Their bites may be comparable to bee stings in terms of pain. Larger centipedes may deliver more venom, causing intense pain.

Pain, redness, and swelling begin immediately upon being bitten. These symptoms may last anywhere from several hours to several days.

Other symptoms may also occur and could indicate a severe allergic reaction, including:

See a doctor if you suspect a severe reaction. Very few recorded incidents of anaphylaxis associated with a centipede bite have occurred. However, anaphylaxis and other severe complications are very rare, even in people bitten by the largest varieties of centipedes. As of this date, there are only between 1 and 7 substantiated fatalities caused by a centipede bite, dating back to 1932.

What should you do if you’ve been bitten by a centipede?

Centipede bites may look similar to bites from other, more dangerous insects. If you aren’t sure what bit you, see a doctor, especially if your symptoms are severe.

If there are no complications, treatment for centipede bites focuses on symptom relief, and may be treated at home:

Centipede bites are wounds. To avoid infection, use a topical antibiotic and keep the site clean and covered.

If your symptoms are severe or don’t improve within a few days, talk with your doctor. You may need prescription corticosteroids.

What complications can occur from a centipede bite?

Complications from centipede bites may result from infection or from damage to the skin and tissue where the bite occurred. Your doctor may give you a tetanus shot or, if they suspect infection, prescribe antibiotics.

Let your doctor know if your symptoms worsen or don’t go away within 48 hours. Also, let your doctor know if you start running a fever, see red streaks near the wound site, or notice a foul odor.

Allergic reactions may also occur. Intense itching, dizziness, hives, or a rash may be signs of an allergic reaction. If you have swelling of the lips, throat, mouth, or tongue, call your local emergency services or have someone take you to an emergency room immediately.

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Outlook

Centipede bites, while painful, rarely cause severe health complications in people. At-home treatments can be effective at reducing pain and symptoms. If your symptoms worsen, you have signs of infection, or an allergic reaction, seek medical help.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Centipedes of North America. (n.d.).https://www.insectidentification.org/centipedes.asp
Fenderson JL. (2014). Centipede envenomation: Bringing the pain to Hawaii and Pacific Islands.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4244901
Haddad Júnior V, et al. (2025). Myriapods (diplopoda and chilopoda): Medical aspects of envenomations.https://www.scielo.br/j/rsbmt/a/qff3rHXcG4yth8jJDXnVPgn/?format=html&lang=en
House centipedes. (2018).http://ento.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/house-centipedes
Nayak CA, et al. (2024). Systemic anaphylaxis following centipede envenomation: A case report and review of literature.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11668425/
Ross EJ, et al. (2023). Centipede Envenomation.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542312/

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Medically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, R.N., CCRN, CPN — Written by Corey Whelan — Updated on September 3, 2025

Centipede Bites: Pictures, Symptoms, First Aid, And More - Healthline

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Bites and Stings

What do centipedes look like?

How do centipedes bite or sting?

What does a centipede bite look like?

What are the symptoms of a centipede bite?

What should you do if you’ve been bitten by a centipede?

What complications can occur from a centipede bite?

Outlook

How we reviewed this article:

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