Focus on Texas: Creepy Crawlies

Amazingly close-up views of critters that can give us the creeps

By Grace Arsiaga October 2016

K.P. Wilska, United Cooperative Services: This pretty green anole was spotted in Keller.

Noelia Rios, Nueces EC: Toad in a water bowl

Shelly Borgfeld, Pedernales EC: “After putting three large dogs in their place, this guy stopped long enough to smile for the camera.”

Berny Duke, Wood County EC: Duke spotted this eastern Hercules beetle while doing yardwork.

Stephanie Ambrosia, Bluebonnet EC: Honeybee coated with pollen

Web Extra: Paul Garcia, Medina EC: Garcia grabbed a pillow and camera gear for a photo shoot with these Texas leaf-cutting ants. He gave his wife an awful fright when she saw him lying facedown in the driveway with his wiener dog standing on his back. “She thought I had a heart attack,” Garcia says. “Oops!”

Web Extra: Cheryl McClure, Farmers EC: McClure finds these black and yellow garden spiders everywhere at home and on the ranch. She says they are welcome to hang around and eat the bugs she doesn’t like.

Web Extra: Kaye Lindsey, Bandera EC: “I was cutting flowers to bring inside when I came upon this praying mantis.”

Web Extra: Penney Ryan, Farmers EC: A wolf spider carrying hundreds of babies on her back

Web Extra: Leoria Moore, Pedernales EC: “Fuzzy little caterpillar with such a happy face”

Web Extra: Jeffrey Reed, CoServ: “My 4-year-old gazing at nature’s beauty”

Web Extra: Desarae Begley, Wise EC: “This little critter landed on my arm. I had to get a photo of him.”

Web Extra: Deb Vandygriff, North Plains EC: “Beep the roadrunner visited us every day for six weeks. It brought snakes, horny toads, lizards and frogs to the front door—courting our dog Bandit.”

Web Extra: Jack Moore, Pedernales EC: A garden spider took up residence in the corner of Moore’s porch. “Known to eat pesky bugs, I left her alone, eventually referring to her as ‘Mildred,’ ” Moore says.