Animal Corner

Discover the many amazing animals that live on our planet.

  • Home
  • A-Z Animals
  • Anatomy
  • Glossary
  • Animal Lists
    • Animal By Letter
    • Animals by Location
    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
  • Free Resources
    • Animal Coloring Pages
    • Animal Jokes
    • Animal Quizzes
  • Pets
    • Dog Breeds
    • Rabbit Breeds
    • Cat Breeds
    • Pet Rodents
    • Animal Care
  • Blog
You are here: Home / Blog / 4 Most Dangerous Insects in Texas

4 Most Dangerous Insects in Texas

As summer approaches, we look forward to spending more time outdoors.

Whether you live in Texas or are just visiting the Lone Star state, you need to be a little more aware of where you’re stepping and what’s living in your shoes. To keep you and your family safe this summer, check out this list of the most dangerous insects in Texas.

Striped Bark Scorpion

There are 18 native types of scorpions living in Texas, the most common being the striped bark scorpion. It is usually yellow-tan with two dark stripes running down its back. It can grow to be about two and a half inches long.

They live under rocks, logs, debris, and sometimes can be found inside buildings. Although their stings are not lethal, they still pack a punch. Lasting symptoms include swelling and numbness in the area. Children and people with sensitive allergies should seek medical attention if stung by this scorpion.

Cow Killer Ants

One of the most dangerous insects in Texas is the cow killer ant or often called the velvet ant. This elusive and rare insect is not part of the ant family but a type of wasp. The species gets its name “velvet ant” from the wingless females with dark red furry bodies. The name “cow killer” comes from the potent sting of the females’ pack. Cow killer ants are unique among wasps in that they do not make a traditional nest. Instead, the females invade the nesting chambers of other ground wasps and lay eggs amongst the wasp’s eggs.

When the cow ant’s larvae hatch, it eats the host and then spins a cocoon and goes through several larval stages before pupation. Humans usually come into contact with cow killer ants in open sunny areas like Texas lawns. Other contact areas include pastures in the summer when the flightless females are searching for new nesting areas.

The Brown Recluse

There are a lot of spiders in Texas, but thankfully only two species are dangerous to humans.

The first is the brown recluse spider. The violin-shaped marking can identify the brown recluse on their abdomen, but we don’t recommend getting that close to one of these dangerous insects. Although the brown recluse is very shy and rarely ever seen, they will bite when they have to. Let’s just say the bite of the brown recluse is no laughing matter. The venom causes the skin around the bite to die. Not only is this extremely painful, but it can often lead to an infection if not treated right away.

The Black Widow

The second deadly spider found in Texas is the infamous black widow. 

Black widows are identified by their red hourglass marking under their abdomens and for their shiny black bodies. They live in dark areas like garages and barns and are not aggressive by nature. Sure, the females tend to eat their mates, hence their name, but these spiders don’t go out of their way to bite humans. However, they wouldn’t be on this list if they weren’t dangerous. Their bite packs potent neurotoxic venom, which can be very dangerous to people in poor health young children.

Search

Most Popular Animals

  • Zebras
  • Aquatic Warbler
  • Atlantic Dolphins
  • Trapdoor Spider
  • Giraffe
  • Meerkats
  • Timber Wolf
  • Praying Mantis
  • Huntsman Spider
  • Vampire Bat

Galapagos Islands

galapagos-islands

Animal Names Glossary

Animal Names

British Wildlife

british-wildlife

Mammals

anatomy

Dog Breeds

dog breeds

Farm Animals

Farm Animals

Best of the Blog

  • 21 Amazing Animals that live in Lakes
  • What are the Fastest Animals in the World?
  • 31 Animals with Weird and Funny Sounding Names
  • Top 15 Deadliest Animals in the World
  • Ophiophagy – Examples of animals that eat snakes
  • List of Fascinating Solitary Animals

Copyright © 2005-2022 · Animal Corner · All Rights Reserved · Affiliate Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Animals Sitemap . About Us

AnimalCorner.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.