If you’re planning a trip to Texas beaches, be on the lookout for centipede-like creatures that have been recently spotted on Mustang Island, near Corpus Christi. These creatures are called bearded fireworms and are infamous for their painful sting.
“Your worst nightmares are washing up right now in the form of bearded fireworms!” the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University, wrote on social media. “The fireworms get their name because of the pain they inflict on anyone that dares to touch them; it literally feels like fire for about three hours.”
Researchers discovered these worms on large logs covered in gooseneck barnacles, possibly feeding on them. Bearded fireworms are known to prey on corals, anemones, and small crustaceans. Although they typically measure 5 to 10 centimeters in length, but, according to the Dallas Morning News, they can grow up to 35 centimeters.
If stung, it’s recommended to apply adhesive tape to remove the spines, followed by rubbing alcohol to relieve the pain. The recent presence of fireworms adds to the list of unusual beach findings by researchers, including baby dolls, glass bottles, and even messages in bottles.
These worms are found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean sea. They thrive in warm temperatures, and amid climate change there have been more reports of fireworms causing trouble.
