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Giant Redheaded Centipede (not an insect)
Scolopendra heros
What the sources say
Venom: “Poison glands are located in the basal segments of the claws” (University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum)
Arkansas Bugs and Insects That Sting or Bite
Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.
On this page
This page lists 13 insects and 2 ticks and mites. 3 are venomous by official accounts. 2 are nonnative.
Not every species: no complete official list of Arkansas insects exists, so this page covers the ones state and Extension sources name. How lists are built.
Which insects can hurt you
Official sources single out these insects in Arkansas, in their own words:
-
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Red Imported Fire Ant
Painful stings. “Fire ant bites are occasionally fatal for hypersensitive individuals.” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
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Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Baldfaced Hornet
Repeated painful stings that can cause severe allergic responses. “…can also induce severe allergic responses in humans” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
-
Red Wasp
Can be aggressive. “…red wasps have been known to be quite aggressive, delivering painful stings” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
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Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized Red Velvet Ant (Cow Killer)
Painful sting. “…the painful reputation of their stings” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
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Photo: M. Whitson · CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist Stinging Rose Caterpillar
Venomous spines cause skin irritation when touched. “Venom enters the skin of humans or animals when the caterpillars are touched” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
-
Mosquitoes
Disease. “Mosquitoes in Arkansas can carry West Nile Virus and other less common diseases.” AGFC
-
Photo: Judy Gallagher · CC BY-SA 4.0 · iNaturalist · resized Cicada Killer
Painful sting that may last up to a week. “A cicada killer sting causes sharp pain that may last as long as a week, but these wasps are not aggressive, and they sting only when provoked.” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
Ticks (arachnids, not insects)
Official sources single out these ticks in Arkansas, in their own words:
-
Ticks
Disease. “Arkansas has some of the highest rates in the nation for tick-borne diseases, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia.” AGFC
All 13 insects and 2 ticks and mites
Venomous species first, then A to Z. Do not handle them.
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House Centipede (not an insect)
Scutigera coleoptrata
What the sources say
Venom: “Severe swelling and pain can result from the venom injected, but in most cases the bite is no worse than the sting of a bee.” (University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum)
Stinging Rose Caterpillar
Parasa indetermina
- Danger to people
- “Venom enters the skin of humans or animals when the caterpillars are touched” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
What the sources say
Venom: “Venom enters the skin of humans or animals when the caterpillars are touched and the tips of the spines break off.” (University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum)
Baldfaced Hornet
Dolichovespula maculata
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Danger to people
- “…can also induce severe allergic responses in humans” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
- Size
- Missouri: workers 1/2 to 3/4 inch, queens 3/4 inch. University of Maryland: workers 5/8 to 3/4 inch, queens just over an inch. Penn State gives 13 to 20 mm for the queen and her offspring.
- How to recognize it
- Not yellow, unlike typical yellowjackets; larger, black and ivory
- Large, rounded, gray paper nest hanging in trees or shrubs, sometimes on buildings
- Nest entrance is the lowest opening of the cone- or egg-shaped nest
Carpenter Bee
Xylocopa virginica
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Chigger (mite; arachnid)
Chigger (mite; arachnid)
Eutrombicula alfreddugesi
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Where in Arkansas
- Throughout the state; less abundant in the delta counties of eastern Arkansas University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
Cicada Killer
Sphecius speciosus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Danger to people
- “A cicada killer sting causes sharp pain that may last as long as a week, but these wasps are not aggressive, and they sting only when provoked.” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
- Size
- About 1 1/8 to 1 5/8 inches long (OSU, NC State); females up to nearly 2 inches, males up to 1.5 inches (University of Kentucky). Females larger than males.
- How to recognize it
- Nests in the ground: burrow about 1/2 inch wide with a U-shaped soil mound at the entrance
- Hole about 1/2 inch across with excavated soil piled around it
- Hovers 1-2 ft above the ground near nests
Deer Tick (Black-legged Tick; arachnid)
Ixodes scapularis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Ebony Blister Beetle
Ebony Blister Beetle
Epicauta funebris
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
European Hornet
Vespa crabro
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Workers up to 1 inch (25 mm); queens slightly larger, up to about 1.3 inches.
- How to recognize it
- Large size plus reddish-brown color on the thorax and first abdominal segment
- C-shaped eyes; somewhat hairy body
- Flies at night and comes to porch lights
- Where in Arkansas
- Ozarks of Northwest Arkansas University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
Red Imported Fire Ant
Solenopsis invicta
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Danger to people
- “Fire ant bites are occasionally fatal for hypersensitive individuals.” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
Red Velvet Ant (Cow Killer)
Dasymutilla occidentalis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Danger to people
- “…the painful reputation of their stings” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
No confirmed photo of Red Wasp
Red Wasp
Polistes carolina
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Danger to people
- “…red wasps have been known to be quite aggressive, delivering painful stings” University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
No confirmed photo of Ringed Paper Wasp
Ringed Paper Wasp
Polistes annularis
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
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Wheel Bug
Arilus cristatus
- Venom
- No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
- Size
- Adults usually 1 to 1 1/4 inches long (UF/IFAS); up to 1 1/2 inches (Missouri, Kentucky). Females are larger than males.
- How to recognize it
- The cogwheel crest: the only insect species in the United States with such a crest
- Long legs and antennae, narrow head, large eyes and a stout beak held at the front of the head
- When disturbed, adults may push out a bright orange-red scent gland from the rear
Insects and Bugs people confuse
European Hornet or Eastern Cicada Killer?
European Hornet Not stated
Eastern Cicada Killer Not stated
Cicada killer abdomens are mostly black with yellow markings, and cicada killers are solitary and nest in the ground; European hornet abdomens are mostly yellow with brown markings and they build paper nests in aerial locations.
European Hornet or Bald-faced Hornet?
European Hornet Not stated
Bald-faced Hornet Not stated
Bald-faced hornets are smaller and mostly black with whitish markings, and their round paper nests usually hang in trees.
Eastern cicada killer or European hornet?
Eastern cicada killer Not stated
European hornet Not stated
Cicada killer abdomen mostly black with yellow marks and nests in the ground; European hornet abdomen mostly yellow with brown marks, paper nest above ground (often in hollow trees).
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When insects are active in Arkansas
Records of insects in Arkansas peak in June to September. They show when people record insects, not how many there are (about month bars).
If you are bitten or stung
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
Official advice from AGFC:
What official sources say
Are there fire ants in Arkansas?
Yes. The red imported fire ant reached southern Arkansas in 1950. University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum
“It reached southern Arkansas in 1950”
About this list
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
"Nonnative" and "Invasive" follow the wording of the source list. See invasive species in Arkansas.
Sources
- Nuisance Wildlife. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
- Red imported fire ant (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Fire ant bites are occasionally fatal for hypersensitive individuals.”
“It reached southern Arkansas in 1950”
- European hornet (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
- Baldfaced hornet (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“…can also induce severe allergic responses in humans”
- Red velvet ant (cow killer) (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“…the painful reputation of their stings”
- Red wasp (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“…red wasps have been known to be quite aggressive, delivering painful stings”
- Ringed paper wasp (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
- Carpenter bee (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
- Stinging rose caterpillar (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (2)
“Venom enters the skin of humans or animals when the caterpillars are touched and the tips of the spines break off.”
“Venom enters the skin of humans or animals when the caterpillars are touched”
- Deer ticks (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
- Chigger (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
- Giant redheaded centipede (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Poison glands are located in the basal segments of the claws”
- House centipede (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Severe swelling and pain can result from the venom injected, but in most cases the bite is no worse than the sting of a bee.”
- Wheel bug (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
- Ebony blister beetle (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
- Cicada killer (Arkansas Arthropods). University of Arkansas Arthropod Museum (Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology). WordPress modified 2017-07-05; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“A cicada killer sting causes sharp pain that may last as long as a week, but these wasps are not aggressive, and they sting only when provoked.”
- ADH urges Arkansans to take precautions during tick and mosquito season (Arkansas Department of Health release carried by AGFC). Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). June 16, 2021; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (3)
“Arkansas has some of the highest rates in the nation for tick-borne diseases, such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Ehrlichiosis and Tularemia.”
“Mosquitoes in Arkansas can carry West Nile Virus and other less common diseases.”
“Use an EPA-approved insect repellant as directed.”
- Arkansas Snake Guide (pocket guide; Kelly J. Irwin, AGFC herpetologist). Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“Several commercial products claim to repel snakes, although none has been shown to be effective”
- Bears back on the move, AGFC offers advice to be bearwise. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC). May 11, 2021; checked November 3, 2026.
Quoted passages (1)
“…unsecured trash cans, loose pet food and bird feeders”
- GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.