Beware of the Scary Texas Toe Biter and the Pain it Could Bring
There are lots of different animals and insects to watch out for while outside in Texas. Most are harmless but there are some that have a very protective or aggressive nature to them. Snakes and spiders are always top of mind when it comes to dangerous animals in Texas. There are also some insects to watch out for like ticks and mosquitoes that can spread disease when bitten. There is one insect that exists in Texas that is very scary looking and has a painful bite called the Texas Toe Biter. Is it dangerous? Is it deadly? Let's find out.
Vinegaroon
Texas is home to some very unusual and sometimes scary looking creatures. One of those creatures is called a vinegaroon. It is a lobster looking bug that shoots acid. Thing is, as scary looking as it is, it is harmless to humans unless you agitate them. They also come out mostly at night to do their hunting. They use their lobster looking pinchers and a whip at the end of their tail that can shoot out an acid to help catch cockroaches, scorpions and other disease carrying and dangerous insects. Leave these guys alone when you see one, they do a lot of good.
Vinegaroons are about 3 inches long and relatively benign unless you happen to annoy them. They can pinch with their heavy mouthparts (pedipalps) and shoot a well-aimed spray of 85% acetic acid (vinegar) from the base of their "whip" to protect themselves. - Big Bend National Park
Blue Dragon
Another creature that is gorgeous but also has a painful bite is the Blue Dragon. They are a type of sea slug that is normally found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans but have found their way into the Gulf of Mexico. They grow to about one inch in length and feed on Portuguese man o’ wars. As the Blue Dragon eats the man o' war, it "stores" the man o' wars' stinging cells for it's own use. It will use those stinging cells to sting you if you pick one up in your hand.
Texas Toe Biter
On top of those two, there is another bug to worry about in Texas, Texas Toe Biter. This bug get two to four inches in length and can live in both water and on land. Their body is oval in shape and has a brown color. They have front pinchers that are used to grab prey like frogs and small fish. They will bite you if they feel the need. They use a sharp straw to stab into the skin of their prey to feed. To humans, the bite is not dangerous but will sting and may leave some swelling around the bite area.
So there you go, some more fuel for tonight's nightmare with the Texas Toe Biter. Be aware of their presence when out in the wild in Texas.