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Everything is bigger in Texas, including the insects.
A photo posted on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Facebook page of a giant redheaded centipede, also known as the Texas Redhead, has quickly gone viral.
The giant centipede is pictured on a broom at Garner State Park, and as the name indicates, has a red head, along with a black body. An article published on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website indicates that giant redheaded centipedes can grow up to 8 inches in length. In addition to lizards and toads, the centipedes have been known to prey on rodents and snakes.
Oh, and Texas Redheads can also catch insects out of the air.
It could be worse, as the South American variants are even larger, and can catch bats.
The centipede’s fangs, which are actually modified legs, are used to inject toxin into their prey, and their brightly-colored legs are used to hold prey from getting away.
Giant redheaded centipedes can bite humans, but Texas Parks and Wildlife indicate that the bite is usually mild, about the same as a bee sting, and symptoms subside within a few hours. According to the wildlife agency, a human death from a Texas Redhead has never been recorded.
Texas Parks and Wildlife officials recommend wearing shoes at all times, as giant redhead centipedes generally can be found under rocks or leaves.
