An image of an insect with black body and red head was posted last week by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It has been reported that the insect was seen in Garner State Park in Texas Hill Country. The department said with the post, "Check out this Texas-sized centipede. It's called a Texas Redhead and is known to prey on lizards and toads".

People reacted a lot after seeing the bug. Someone wrote on Twitter that if it was a toy broom. The department wrote in reply, "Full size broom".

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, the huge redheaded centipede (Scolopendra heros) can have a length of up to 8 inches in the wild. As per reports, it can grow even larger when it's in captivity. The insect hunts snakes, rodents, lizards and toads.

The insect captures its victim by using its legs and then pierce the skin with help of its claws, or "fangs". Its legs are also able to puncture skin.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine is describing it as "one bad dude". It appears that its presence alone is enough to cause fright. It has been reported that the insect's bite is sharp and painful, however it just causes mild swelling. Such bites rarely cause dizziness, skin necrosis, nausea and headaches. According to the magazine, there are a very few cases when it led to kidney failure, muscle tissue damage and heart attack.

According to reports, the insect has also been found in southern Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, northern Mexico and Arizona.