A Ruthven’s Whip Snake from the Texas Rio Grande Valley

A Ruthven's Whip Snake from the Texas Rio Grande Valley
— BugsInTheNews is a viewer-participant website. This article by Jerry Cates and Monica H., first published on 9 August 2010, was last revised on 6 July 2012. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:08(06). —————————————– Monica wrote: Can you identify this snake? It came out of the hedge, in the air. We are in the Rio Grande Valley. Thanks ...

Cottonmouths & Copperheads in Texas, June to August of 2010

Cottonmouths & Copperheads in Texas, June to August of 2010
— This article by Jerry Cates, Zac Morgan, Leanne Wiles, Shelly T., and Robert B., first published on 9 August 2010, was last revised on 23 October 2012. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:08(04). —————————————– Imagine that you, like Zac Morgan and his girlfriend, Leanne Wiles, are enjoying a warm afternoon hike along a creek near the city ...

Batesian Mimicry of Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes by Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes in the Sam Houston National Forest

Batesian Mimicry of Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes by Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes in the Sam Houston National Forest
— This article by Jerry Cates and Tom Sinclair, first published on 15 June 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:06(01). ————————– Recently, Tom was surveying a portion of the Sam Houston Nationaf Forest for additional specimens of the western pygmy rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri). He knew that serpent was common ...

Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes in the Sam Houston National Forest

Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes in the Sam Houston National Forest
—This article by Jerry Cates and Tom Sinclair, with contributions from Matthijs Hollanders, first published on 4 May 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:05(3). ————————– Tom Sinclair is a retired businessman who just happens to have been born a couple of months later than I. Retirement allows him to follow ...

North American Coral Snakes (Micruroides euryxanthus, Micrurus tener, and Micrurus fulvius)

North American Coral Snakes (Micruroides euryxanthus, Micrurus tener, and Micrurus fulvius)
— This article by Jerry Cates, with contributions from John Henry Bartose, Gary Nafis, Jeff Survoss, Jenny C., and Pam S.,  first published on 4 May 2010, was last revised on 23 October 2013. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:05(2). ————————– Coral snakes, all in the Elapidae (New Latin elaps = serpent) family, though most diverse in the ...

A Southern Copperhead in Allen, Texas

A Southern Copperhead in Allen, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates and Dana T., first published in May 2009, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 10:05. ——————————- Dana wrote: “Jerry — I originally found your website several weeks  ago, while trying to find out, on the Internet, how best to keep rat snakes out of my yard. We ...

Snake Bite First Aid

— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 16 April 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:04(08). ——————————– NOTE: This post is especially written for those who wish to prepare themselves, before the fact, for the possibility that they or someone in their company may someday become bitten by a snake. ...

A Texas Blind Snake in Temple, Texas

A Texas Blind Snake in Temple, Texas
—This article by Jerry Cates and Ashley D., first published on 7 April 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:04(05). —————————— Ashley wrote: “My mom and I found this snake on our porch. We’re not sure what kind it is; all we know is it is a baby snake. We live in Temple, Texas.” It ...

Snake Teeth & Fangs — Structure & Specialization

Snake Teeth & Fangs --- Structure & Specialization
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 6 April 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:04(04). —————————— Snake dentition varies according to structure and function. Four general groupings of dentition are recognized within the suborder Serpentes. Within each group, considerable additional variation occurs. However, some general characteristics mark the snakes in ...

Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes in Texas

Eastern Hog-nosed Snakes in Texas
—This article by Jerry Cates et al., first published in March 2007, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 08:03. —————————— The eastern hog-nosed snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is a medium sized snake that comes in a variety of colors and markings. It has a stout body, a broad head and thick neck. When ...