Wildlife of Proto-Town/Bugs - Revision history

Admin: Added beneficial species labels

2026-07-19T07:44:51Z

Added beneficial species labels

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:44, 19 July 2026
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	\|origin=Native		\|origin=Native
	\|status=Not federally listed		\|status=Not federally listed
			\|benefit=Predates insects and other arthropods; the ecological value does not reduce the medical importance of avoiding its web retreats.
	\|risk=orange		\|risk=orange
	\|danger=Venom affects the nervous system and can cause severe muscle cramping, abdominal or chest pain, sweating, and nausea.		\|danger=Venom affects the nervous system and can cause severe muscle cramping, abdominal or chest pain, sweating, and nausea.
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	\|origin=Native		\|origin=Native
	\|status=Not federally listed		\|status=Not federally listed
			\|benefit=Predates insects and other arthropods, although indoor concentrations still require careful professional management.
	\|risk=orange		\|risk=orange
	\|danger=Bites can cause painful skin injury and, rarely, serious systemic illness. Many unrelated wounds are incorrectly blamed on this spider.		\|danger=Bites can cause painful skin injury and, rarely, serious systemic illness. Many unrelated wounds are incorrectly blamed on this spider.
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	\|origin=Native		\|origin=Native
	\|status=Not federally listed		\|status=Not federally listed
			\|benefit=Native nocturnal predator of insects and other ground-dwelling arthropods.
	\|risk=yellow		\|risk=yellow
	\|danger=Large and intimidating but generally reluctant to bite; defensive hairs can irritate skin and eyes.		\|danger=Large and intimidating but generally reluctant to bite; defensive hairs can irritate skin and eyes.
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	\|origin=Native		\|origin=Native
	\|status=Not federally listed		\|status=Not federally listed
			\|benefit=Native predator of insects and other small arthropods.
	\|risk=orange		\|risk=orange
	\|danger=Sting is usually not life-threatening but can be intensely painful and cause swelling, numbness, or muscle symptoms.		\|danger=Sting is usually not life-threatening but can be intensely painful and cause swelling, numbness, or muscle symptoms.
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	\|origin=Introduced; naturalized and managed		\|origin=Introduced; naturalized and managed
	\|status=Not federally endangered		\|status=Not federally endangered
			\|benefit=Major crop and garden pollinator with substantial agricultural and beekeeping value.
	\|risk=yellow		\|risk=yellow
	\|danger=Workers sting defensively and leave a barbed stinger; colony defense can result in many stings.		\|danger=Workers sting defensively and leave a barbed stinger; colony defense can result in many stings.
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	\|origin=Native migrant		\|origin=Native migrant
	\|status=Conservation concern; verify current federal listing status before management action		\|status=Conservation concern; verify current federal listing status before management action
			\|benefit=Flower visitor and important conservation species whose habitat also supports many other native pollinators.
	\|risk=none		\|risk=none
	\|description=Monarchs pass through Central Texas during spring and autumn migrations. Adults are orange with black veins and borders; caterpillars are banded black, white, and yellow and feed on native milkweeds. The insects store milkweed toxins that deter many predators, but ordinary observation is harmless to people.		\|description=Monarchs pass through Central Texas during spring and autumn migrations. Adults are orange with black veins and borders; caterpillars are banded black, white, and yellow and feed on native milkweeds. The insects store milkweed toxins that deter many predators, but ordinary observation is harmless to people.
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	\|origin=Native		\|origin=Native
	\|status=Not federally listed		\|status=Not federally listed
			\|benefit=Active daytime predator of flies, moths, and other insects around vegetation and structures.
	\|risk=none		\|risk=none
	\|description=The bold jumper is a compact, alert hunting spider with large forward-facing eyes, black-and-white markings, and often iridescent green or blue mouthparts. It does not build a prey-catching web; instead it stalks flies, moths, and other insects and pounces with a short jump while trailing a safety line of silk. Bites are uncommon and are not considered medically significant.		\|description=The bold jumper is a compact, alert hunting spider with large forward-facing eyes, black-and-white markings, and often iridescent green or blue mouthparts. It does not build a prey-catching web; instead it stalks flies, moths, and other insects and pounces with a short jump while trailing a safety line of silk. Bites are uncommon and are not considered medically significant.
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	\|origin=Native species occur in Texas		\|origin=Native species occur in Texas
	\|status=Not federally listed		\|status=Not federally listed
			\|benefit=Outdoor colonies help break down dead wood and recycle nutrients; this does not make colonies inside structures desirable.
	\|risk=yellow		\|risk=yellow
	\|danger=Workers can bite and may apply irritating formic acid. Indoor activity can indicate damp, decayed, or repeatedly wetted wood.		\|danger=Workers can bite and may apply irritating formic acid. Indoor activity can indicate damp, decayed, or repeatedly wetted wood.
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	\|origin=Native		\|origin=Native
	\|status=Not federally listed		\|status=Not federally listed
			\|benefit=Adults visit flowers and colonies capture caterpillars and other insects for their larvae.
	\|risk=orange		\|risk=orange
	\|danger=Can sting repeatedly when its nest is disturbed. Stings are painful and may cause significant swelling; many stings or a severe allergic reaction require emergency care.		\|danger=Can sting repeatedly when its nest is disturbed. Stings are painful and may cause significant swelling; many stings or a severe allergic reaction require emergency care.

Admin: Added New World screwworm emergency guidance and red paper wasps

2026-07-18T05:06:12Z

Added New World screwworm emergency guidance and red paper wasps

@@ Line 225: / Line 225: @@
 |encounter=Do not spray a few visible workers and assume the problem is solved. Trace activity, correct leaks or wet wood, and use an identification or pest professional when a structural nest is suspected.
 }}
 ==Sources==
@@ Line 234: / Line 291: @@
 * [https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-external/white-grub-identification-and-control/ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: May and June beetles]
 * [https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-external/carpenter-ants/ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: carpenter ants]
 [[Category:Wildlife of Proto-Town]]

Admin: Added jumping spiders June beetles and carpenter ants

2026-07-18T04:57:02Z

Added jumping spiders June beetles and carpenter ants

@@ Line 165: / Line 165: @@
 |risk=none
 |description=Monarchs pass through Central Texas during spring and autumn migrations. Adults are orange with black veins and borders; caterpillars are banded black, white, and yellow and feed on native milkweeds. The insects store milkweed toxins that deter many predators, but ordinary observation is harmless to people.
 }}
@@ Line 172: / Line 231: @@
 * [https://www.cdc.gov/vector-borne-diseases/prevention/index.html CDC: preventing mosquito and tick bites]
 * [https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/prevention/index.html CDC: preventing Chagas disease]
 [[Category:Wildlife of Proto-Town]]

Admin: Replaced the monarch thumbnail

2026-07-18T04:32:13Z

Replaced the monarch thumbnail

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:32, 18 July 2026
Line 157:		Line 157:
	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Monarch butterfly		\|name=Monarch butterfly
	\|image=~~Danaus~~ ~~plexippus Male 3000px~~.jpg		\|image=Monarch (6846828149).jpg
	\|type=Insect; butterfly		\|type=Insect; butterfly
	\|scientific=''Danaus plexippus''		\|scientific=''Danaus plexippus''

Admin: Corrected bug thumbnail filenames

2026-07-18T04:30:03Z

Corrected bug thumbnail filenames

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:30, 18 July 2026
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Red imported fire ant		\|name=Red imported fire ant
			\|image=Red Imported Fire Ant (Myrmicinae, Solenopsis invicta) (30518448423).jpg
	\|image=Solenopsis invicta casent0172345 profile 1.jpg
	\|type=Insect; ant		\|type=Insect; ant
	\|scientific=''Solenopsis invicta''		\|scientific=''Solenopsis invicta''
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Southern black widow		\|name=Southern black widow
	\|image=~~Latrodectus~~ ~~mactans~~ ~~female~~.jpg		\|image=Adult Female Black Widow.jpg
	\|type=Arachnid; cobweb spider		\|type=Arachnid; cobweb spider
	\|scientific=''Latrodectus mactans''		\|scientific=''Latrodectus mactans''
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Texas brown tarantula		\|name=Texas brown tarantula
	\|image=~~Aphonopelma~~ ~~hentzi~~ 11.jpg		\|image=Texas Brown Tarantula.jpg
	\|type=Arachnid; tarantula		\|type=Arachnid; tarantula
	\|scientific=''Aphonopelma hentzi''		\|scientific=''Aphonopelma hentzi''
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Striped bark scorpion		\|name=Striped bark scorpion
	\|image=Centruroides vittatus.jpg		\|image=Striped Bark Scorpion (Centruroides vittatus) (306331446).jpg
	\|type=Arachnid; scorpion		\|type=Arachnid; scorpion
	\|scientific=''Centruroides vittatus''		\|scientific=''Centruroides vittatus''
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Southern house mosquito		\|name=Southern house mosquito
	\|image=Culex quinquefasciatus.jpg		\|image=Culex quinquefasciatus E-A-Goeldi 1905.jpg
	\|type=Insect; mosquito		\|type=Insect; mosquito
	\|scientific=''Culex quinquefasciatus''		\|scientific=''Culex quinquefasciatus''
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Western honey bee		\|name=Western honey bee
	\|image=Apis mellifera ~~Western honey bee~~.jpg		\|image=Apis mellifera flying.jpg
	\|type=Insect; bee		\|type=Insect; bee
	\|scientific=''Apis mellifera''		\|scientific=''Apis mellifera''
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	{{Wildlife entry		{{Wildlife entry
	\|name=Red velvet ant		\|name=Red velvet ant
	\|image=Dasymutilla occidentalis.jpg		\|image=Dasymutilla occidentalis 02.jpg
	\|type=Insect; wingless female wasp		\|type=Insect; wingless female wasp
	\|scientific=''Dasymutilla occidentalis''		\|scientific=''Dasymutilla occidentalis''

Admin: Added common insects arachnids and other bugs

2026-07-18T04:25:44Z

Added common insects arachnids and other bugs

New page

__NOTOC__
{{Wildlife navigation}}

“Bugs” is used here in the everyday sense and includes insects, spiders, ticks, and scorpions. Most small arthropods are harmless or beneficial; avoid handling an unfamiliar specimen solely to obtain a closer identification.

==Red imported fire ant==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Red imported fire ant
|image=Solenopsis invicta casent0172345 profile 1.jpg
|type=Insect; ant
|scientific=''Solenopsis invicta''
|regional=Fire ant
|origin=Introduced; invasive
|status=Regulated pest; not endangered
|risk=orange
|danger=Workers swarm and sting repeatedly, producing burning pain and sterile pustules; large numbers of stings can be medically serious.
|description=Red imported fire ants build loose-soil mounds, often without an obvious central opening, in lawns, roadsides, pastures, and electrical equipment. Colonies respond rapidly when a mound is disturbed and harm native wildlife as well as people and livestock.
|encounter=Step away quickly, brush ants off, and wash the area. Do not rupture pustules. Call 911 for breathing difficulty, throat swelling, faintness, or other signs of a severe allergic reaction; use an established integrated pest-management program for colonies.
}}

==Southern black widow==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Southern black widow
|image=Latrodectus mactans female.jpg
|type=Arachnid; cobweb spider
|scientific=''Latrodectus mactans''
|regional=Black widow
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=orange
|danger=Venom affects the nervous system and can cause severe muscle cramping, abdominal or chest pain, sweating, and nausea.
|description=Adult females are glossy dark spiders that often have a red hourglass on the underside of the abdomen. They build irregular, strong webs in sheltered undisturbed spaces such as meter boxes, stored materials, crawl spaces, and outdoor furniture. They do not pursue people and usually bite only when trapped or pressed.
|encounter=Do not reach into a web or blind cavity with bare hands. For a suspected bite, wash the site and contact Poison Control or a clinician promptly; call 911 for severe symptoms.
}}

==Brown recluse==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Brown recluse
|image=Loxosceles reclusa.jpg
|type=Arachnid; recluse spider
|scientific=''Loxosceles reclusa''
|regional=Brown recluse; fiddleback
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=orange
|danger=Bites can cause painful skin injury and, rarely, serious systemic illness. Many unrelated wounds are incorrectly blamed on this spider.
|description=Brown recluses are plain tan-brown spiders with six eyes arranged in three pairs; the often-mentioned violin mark is not a reliable identification by itself. They favor dry, dark, rarely disturbed spaces in boxes, closets, sheds, and stored materials and may become trapped against skin in clothing or bedding.
|encounter=Shake out stored clothing and use gloves when moving boxes or scrap. If bitten, wash the area, photograph the spider from a safe distance if possible, and seek medical advice; do not attempt home surgery on the wound.
}}

==Texas brown tarantula==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Texas brown tarantula
|image=Aphonopelma hentzi 11.jpg
|type=Arachnid; tarantula
|scientific=''Aphonopelma hentzi''
|regional=Texas brown tarantula
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=yellow
|danger=Large and intimidating but generally reluctant to bite; defensive hairs can irritate skin and eyes.
|description=This heavy-bodied brown spider lives in burrows and hunts insects at night. Mature males may wander across roads and open ground during the warm-season mating period. Its size is conspicuous, but medically significant bites are not expected in ordinary encounters.
|encounter=Do not handle or crowd it. Give it room to walk away; keep the face and eyes away from a defensive spider and wash exposed skin if irritating hairs are contacted.
}}

==Striped bark scorpion==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Striped bark scorpion
|image=Centruroides vittatus.jpg
|type=Arachnid; scorpion
|scientific=''Centruroides vittatus''
|regional=Bark scorpion; striped scorpion
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=orange
|danger=Sting is usually not life-threatening but can be intensely painful and cause swelling, numbness, or muscle symptoms.
|description=The striped bark scorpion is the most frequently encountered scorpion in much of Texas. It shelters beneath bark, rocks, lumber, debris, shoes, and equipment by day and hunts small arthropods at night. Under ultraviolet light it fluoresces blue-green.
|encounter=Shake out shoes and gloves and avoid placing bare hands under stored objects. For a sting, wash the area and contact Poison Control for guidance; seek urgent care for severe or spreading symptoms.
}}

==Texas kissing bug==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Texas kissing bug
|image=Triatoma gerstaeckeri.jpg
|type=Insect; assassin bug
|scientific=''Triatoma gerstaeckeri''
|regional=Kissing bug; cone-nose bug
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=orange
|danger=Can carry ''Trypanosoma cruzi'', the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Transmission normally involves infected feces entering a bite, eye, or broken skin—not the bite alone.
|description=This large, dark, nocturnal true bug has an elongated cone-shaped head and orange or red markings along the abdomen. It feeds on vertebrate blood and may occur near wildlife nests, kennels, porches, and buildings. Similar-looking wheel bugs and leaf-footed bugs do not share the same public-health role.
|encounter=Do not crush it against bare skin. Trap it in a closed container without direct contact, clean the area, and photograph or submit it through an appropriate Texas identification program; consult a clinician or veterinarian about suspected exposure.
}}

==Lone star tick==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Lone star tick
|image=Amblyomma americanum tick.jpg
|type=Arachnid; hard tick
|scientific=''Amblyomma americanum''
|regional=Lone star tick
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=orange
|danger=Bites can transmit ehrlichiosis and other pathogens and can trigger alpha-gal syndrome, an allergy to mammalian meat and products.
|description=Adult females have a single pale spot on the back, while nymphs are much smaller and lack the prominent mark. Lone star ticks actively pursue hosts in brush, tall grass, and leaf litter and are common in the south-central United States.
|encounter=Use repellent and perform full-body tick checks after outdoor work. Remove an attached tick promptly with fine-tipped tweezers by pulling steadily near the skin; record the date and seek medical advice if fever, rash, or other illness follows.
}}

==Southern house mosquito==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Southern house mosquito
|image=Culex quinquefasciatus.jpg
|type=Insect; mosquito
|scientific=''Culex quinquefasciatus''
|regional=House mosquito
|origin=Native or longstanding cosmopolitan population
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=orange
|danger=Some mosquitoes can transmit West Nile virus and other pathogens; an individual mosquito cannot be judged infectious by appearance.
|description=Southern house mosquitoes are plain brown mosquitoes that breed in stagnant, nutrient-rich water and often bite from dusk through the night. Containers, clogged drains, tires, and neglected water features can produce many adults close to buildings.
|encounter=Use EPA-registered repellent and protective clothing. Empty or treat standing water, maintain screens, and report unusual mosquito abundance or clusters of illness through local public-health channels.
}}

==Western honey bee==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Western honey bee
|image=Apis mellifera Western honey bee.jpg
|type=Insect; bee
|scientific=''Apis mellifera''
|regional=Honey bee
|origin=Introduced; naturalized and managed
|status=Not federally endangered
|risk=yellow
|danger=Workers sting defensively and leave a barbed stinger; colony defense can result in many stings.
|description=Honey bees are social pollinators that live in managed hives or cavities and visit many flowers. A compact swarm hanging from a branch is usually temporary and less defensive than an established colony, but it should still be given space.
|encounter=Do not strike, spray, or disturb a swarm or colony. Move indoors or into a vehicle if many bees attack, protect the face, and call 911 for severe allergic symptoms; arrange removal through an experienced beekeeper or pest professional.
}}

==Red velvet ant==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Red velvet ant
|image=Dasymutilla occidentalis.jpg
|type=Insect; wingless female wasp
|scientific=''Dasymutilla occidentalis''
|regional=Cow killer; velvet ant
|origin=Native
|status=Not federally listed
|risk=orange
|danger=Females can deliver an exceptionally painful sting, although the sting is not ordinarily fatal.
|description=Despite the name, velvet ants are parasitoid wasps. The conspicuous red-orange and black female is wingless and walks rapidly across open ground, while males have wings. The bright color and squeaking defensive sound advertise a strong sting rather than aggression.
|encounter=Do not pick it up or pin it with a shoe. Let it pass; if stung, wash the area, use basic first aid, and contact Poison Control for severe or unusual symptoms.
}}

==Monarch butterfly==
{{Wildlife entry
|name=Monarch butterfly
|image=Danaus plexippus Male 3000px.jpg
|type=Insect; butterfly
|scientific=''Danaus plexippus''
|regional=Monarch
|origin=Native migrant
|status=Conservation concern; verify current federal listing status before management action
|risk=none
|description=Monarchs pass through Central Texas during spring and autumn migrations. Adults are orange with black veins and borders; caterpillars are banded black, white, and yellow and feed on native milkweeds. The insects store milkweed toxins that deter many predators, but ordinary observation is harmless to people.
}}

==Sources==
* [https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/asset-local/community-fire-ant-management/ Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: fire ant management]
* [https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Spiders-1.pdf Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: spiders]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/vector-borne-diseases/prevention/index.html CDC: preventing mosquito and tick bites]
* [https://www.cdc.gov/chagas/prevention/index.html CDC: preventing Chagas disease]

[[Category:Wildlife of Proto-Town]]