Everything’s Bigger in Texas — Including These 9 Enormous Insects

Many wild and interesting bugs call Texas home. From our state insect (the monarch butterfly!) to Texas red-headed centipedes (which are just as scary as they sound), Texas is a haven for bug lovers. And because everything is bigger in Texas, it’s no surprise that our bugs are bigger too! We have some of the biggest bugs in North America and the world, including venomous ones, flying ones, swimming ones, and totally harmless ones. Some of these bugs are pretty, while others look downright terrifying, especially if you find one in your home. All of them are fascinating and an important part of our ecosystem, however. Keep reading for nine of the biggest bugs in Texas.

1. Giant Water Bug (Lethocerus americanus)

The giant water bug measures more than 3 inches from top to bottom and an inch-and-a-half across, making it one of the largest insects in all of North America and one of the largest aquatic insects in the world, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). These bugs live near freshwater ponds, lakes, pools, and other areas with slow-moving water and are active during the summer. It looks similar to a cockroach with its flat, dark brown body, but one notable difference is its huge front claws. The giant water bug is so large that it hunts minnows, tadpoles, small frogs, turtles, snakes, and other insects.

“Pretty much anything swimming by can be caught by the bugs’ powerful front legs and impaled by their needlelike mouthparts to become dinner,” TWPD states on their website. And, yes, they will bite humans if they get too close, so you may want to stay clear if you see one at home.

2. Walkingstick (Megaphasma denticrus)

Many walkingsticks (also known as stick bugs) are long, but the Megaphasma denticrus is the longest, measuring almost 7 inches long. This is the longest insect in the U.S., according to Texas A&M Agrilife.

These slow-moving bugs look like sticks, with thin legs and no wings. They range in color from brown to green to blend in with nature, and feed on leaves and plants, such as apple, basswood, birch, dogwood, hackberry, hickory, locust, oak, pecan, and wild cherry. They aren’t dangerous to humans and don’t sting, but sometimes a large gathering can cause a mass defoliation of hardwood trees, per the Texas A&M Forest Service. If you see one of these docile bugs, you can admire them, let them climb on you, or leave them be.

3. Texas Red-Headed Centipede (Scolopendra heros)

Also known as the giant desert centipede, this bug is big and venomous! This centipede can be as long as eight inches and is one of the largest centipedes in North America. It is black with yellow legs and a red head (hence the name) and either 21 or 23 pairs of legs. According to Texas Monthly, bites from the Texas red-headed centipede have sent people to the hospital, although there are no known fatalities. Smaller prey can’t say the same, though. The centipede will eat smaller insects and even rodents, lizards, toads, and snakes.

“As far as invertebrates go, the giant redheaded centipede is one bad dude,” Ben Hutchins with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department told Texas Hill Country. “Bites are usually rather mild, resulting in a sharp, painful sting that is sometimes accompanied by swelling, usually subsiding after a few hours.”

You might find this nocturnal centipede hiding during the day in rocky woodlands or under rocks, potted plants, and other sheltered locations.

4. Vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus giganteus)

Coming across a vinegaroon in the wild might surprise you. According to Texas A&M Agrilife, the vinegaroon has several pairs of legs, is all black, has pincers in the front, and a long and thin tail that gives this bug the nickname whipscorpion. (Yikes!)

The vinegaroon can grow up to 3 inches long and is primarily found in West Texas, although there have been sightings in the Panhandle and in South Texas. They are more commonly found in desert areas but have also been reported in grassland, pine forests, and mountains. If you get on their bad side, they can pinch you or spray a mist from the base of their tail made up of a solution that is about 85 percent acetic acid (the main component of vinegar), which might cause a burning sensation. Fortunately, they are not poisonous.

5. Cicada Killer (Sphecius speciosus)

This insect is one of the largest wasps in the U.S., growing up to two inches in length. They are recognized by their black or rust-colored bodies with yellow bands around their midsection. Cicada killers live in sandy areas, where they will dig burrows and create tunnels to live in. Females have stingers, but they will rarely use them on humans or animals, per Texas A&M Agrilife. Instead, they prefer to attack and eat cicadas.

6. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio cresphontes)

Butterflies are some of the cutest bugs in Texas, and one of the biggest is the giant swallowtail butterfly! According to Texas Master Naturalist, this butterfly has a wingspan of 4-6 inches (imagine coming across one of those in your garden!). The butterfly has a black, blue, orange, and pale yellow underbelly, with brown or black wings on top featuring yellow diagonal bands. Female giant swallowtail butterflies are bigger and cover more distance with each wingbeat than their male counterparts. They are found all over the state and enjoy eating citrus leaves as caterpillars and nectar from flowers as butterflies.

7. Crane Fly (Tipulidae family)

These insects (often called mosquito hawks) are big, especially when they fly around your home in the spring and summer in Texas. Crane flies can be up to 1.5 inches long, with most of that length coming from their long legs, which are twice the length of their bodies, and a wingspan that can reach up to 2.5 inches. They may look similar to mosquitoes, but they typically do not feed at all as adults and are harmless to humans. You can typically find crane flies in moist environments, such as woodlands, streams, and floodplains, although they can also live in open fields and dry rangeland.

8. Dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus)

A dobsonfly is one of the largest flying insects in Texas, with bodies up to 4 inches long and a wingspan of up to 5 inches, according to TPWD. In fact, when they beat their wings, it can even sound like a bat! This reddish to grayish brown insect has veined wings and small white spots on their forewings, with long, thin antennae. Males have long, pincer-like jaws up to 1 inch long, used to grasp females when mating. Dobsonfly larvae are called hellgrammites. They are aquatic and live in shallow, fast-flowing portions of streams, creeks, and rivers. They remain in this larval state for up to four years, shedding their exoskeleton up to 12 times. Once they become pupae, they crawl underground and burrow into wet soil, eventually emerging as adult dobsonflies.

9. American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

At no surprise to those who have encountered this huge pest, the list of the biggest bugs in Texas wouldn’t be complete without mentioning cockroaches. The American cockroach found throughout Texas is one of the largest common cockroaches that can reach up to 2 inches long, per Texas A&M Agrilife. (Or appearing 2 feet long if you are just as grossed out by these creatures as I am!)

The American cockroach typically lives in wood piles, decaying trees, and sewer systems — when they aren’t entering houses, that is. These flattened bugs can enter homes through loose-fitting doors and windows, where electric lines or pipes pass through the walls, and any other cracks they might find. They prefer moist areas like basements, crawl spaces, and sewers, and will eat almost anything, from food left out to wallpaper paste and book bindings.

Although cockroaches are gross, they aren’t necessarily dangerous. They can carry several species of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can infect humans, so you should be wary of them. If you happen upon a cockroach in your house, it can be difficult to get rid of it without the help of a professional exterminator.

The post Everything’s Bigger in Texas — Including These 9 Enormous Insects appeared first on A-Z Animals.