A Western Cottonmouth Snake in Santa Fe, Texas

A Western Cottonmouth Snake in Santa Fe, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates and Tammy D., first published on 29 August 2011, was last revised on 23 October 2013. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 12:08(05). ————————————- On 28 August 2011 Tammy wrote: “Jerry, Please see the attached photos and let me know who is correct. I say this is a Water Moccasin, but my husband ...

A Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake from Cedar Creek, Texas

A Western Diamond-backed Rattlesnake from Cedar Creek, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates and Karen L., first published on 21 November 2010, was revised last on 23 October 2013. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:11(06) —————————— Karen called me on 22 October 2010 to talk about the rattlesnake she found outside a screened window the previous evening, after dark. A neighbor came to her aid ...

Black Widow Spider vs. Eastern Black-necked Garter Snake; near Moffat, Texas

Black Widow Spider vs. Eastern Black-necked Garter Snake; near Moffat, Texas
— This article by Jerry Cates and Bridget W., first published on 11 August 2010, was last revised on 23 October 2013. © Bugsinthenews Vol. 11:08(07). ——————————— Important Links related to the content of this page: (1) Spider Extermination and Control (2) Spider Bite First Aid Meet the snake in this drama. This juvenile eastern black-necked ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...