An Invasion of Striped Bark Scorpions at a Residence in Cedar Creek, Texas

An Invasion of Striped Bark Scorpions at a Residence in Cedar Creek, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 19 June 2010, and last revised on 24 April 2016, is the basis for a televised episode featured in the 2012 Animal Planet TV series INFESTED. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:06(04). ————————– General Information on Striped Bark Scorpions: Buthidae: Striped bark scorpion (Centruroides vittatus Say, 1821); Taxonomy, Anatomy, ...

Africanized European Honey Bees in East-central Austin, Texas

Africanized European Honey Bees in East-central Austin, Texas
—This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 17 June 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:06(03). ————————– In June 2010 a call came in from one of my favorite friends, Sandra R., concerning bees in a home just purchased by her daughter-in-law’s brother, Nick W. If you click on ...

A Giant Lichen Orbweaver near Burnet, Texas

A Giant Lichen Orbweaver near Burnet, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates and Becky C., first published on 15 June 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:06(02). ————————– Becky wrote that she had found a giant lichen orbweaver (Araneus bicentenarius) on her property near the Texas city of Burnet. The photos she sent were stunning in their ...

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 Wind Scorpion in Edinburg, Texas

A Wind Scorpion in Edinburg, Texas
This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 1 May 2010, was last revised on 5 September 2014. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:05(01). —————————— Jenny wrote: “I took a photograph of a very strange looking bug that looks like a spider, but it isn’t like any spider I’ve ever seen. I found it in my home, in ...

Stopping a Raccoon Invasion of a Commercial Structure in Denton, Texas

Stopping a Raccoon Invasion of a Commercial Structure in Denton, Texas
This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 23 April 2010, was last revised on 25 September 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:04(11). Summary: At this time of the year, mother raccoons are busy suckling their young in nests hidden away from prying eyes. The raccoon (Procyon lotor) is a medium-sized mammal native to North America. ...

Acrobat Ants in Temple, Texas

Acrobat Ants in Temple, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates, first published on 19 April 2010, was last revised on 24 April 2016. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:04(10). ———————————– Every spring, throughout Texas and most of the southern half of the U.S., soon after new growth erupts from leaf buds, acrobat ants — in the genus Crematogaster — sally forth ...

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 ...