New Bee Discovered for the First Time in Texas

New Bee Discovered for the First Time in Texas






Bumble Bees, Honeybees, and Killer Bees are all so 2024. We're approaching a new year, and it's time for a new bee! Scientist have discovered a new bee in Texas that lives underground, and it's blue! The bee's scientific name is Andrena androfovea, and it is a matte-blue color with a unique pollen pack and brushes! The bees run solo unlike most hive dwelling bees.










The pollen collecting brushes are uniquely designed to help the bee scoop pollen from plants in the tomato family. The brushes are located on the underside of the bee, and they are shaped like ice cream scoops.

Because this bee is so different from all other species, when it was discovered by scientist in Texas and Oklahoma, they determined it would need to be part of a whole new subgenus. The Blue Mining Bee probably diverged from other species around 12.6 million years ago, which makes you wonder why it took so long for scientist to discover them!




Mining Bees

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While the bee may seem like an oddball, it does bring awareness to some critical wildlife issues. Researchers hope this discovery will inspire sustainable land management practices that balance human activity with wildlife conservation.

“Every species contributes to the ecosystem, and this tiny blue bee is no exception,” said Dr. Keng-Lou James Hung, one of the lead researchers. “It’s a reminder of how much we still have to learn about the natural world.”

So next time you get stung by a bee that looks a little weird try to remember that it might be a new species that could be named after you!



Ten Common Bugs Found in Texas

Gallery Credit: Daniel Paulus

Ant


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Ant
One of the most common types of insects in Texas are ants; with over 200 different species found in the state.

Aphids


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Aphids
Aphids are a common threat to gardens around Texas.

Bee


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Bee
Whether it's bees, wasps, hornets, etc, you will find MANY around Texas.

Cockroach


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Cockroach
You can find cockroaches all over Texas; especially in warm, humid areas.

Flea


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Flea
One of the biggest enemies to dogs, fleas are very common around Texas.

Fly


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Fly
Some common varieties of flies you'll find in Texas include the house fly, the deer fly & the horse fly.

Kissing Bug


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Kissing Bug
These penny sized bugs have been known to carry diseases in Texas.

Mosquitoes


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Mosquitoes
A very common pest found in Texas are mosquitoes.

Scorpion


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Scorpion
Yes scorpions are commonly classified as insects & Texas has about 20 different species in the state.

Grasshopper


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Grasshopper
Texas has at least 44 different species of grasshoppers found all over the state.



11 Bugs You Can Eat In Texas
If grocery prices ever get so high that you have no other option, you might be able to find enough of these bugs to survive on.

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

Ants


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Ants
How to Eat Them







Place the ants in water as you are catching them, once you've caught enough...
Bring the ant water to a boil, this will kill the acid in the little buggers' bodies.
Season to taste?

Woodlice


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Woodlice
How to Eat Them





Drop them in boiling water
Let them boil long enough to kill the parasitic roundworms that hitch a ride on these 'potato bugs', 'roly polies', or 'pill bugs'.
Make sure you strain the water to make sure the tiny little bugs on the bugs that you're going to eat are washed away.
Bonus: These woodlice aren't even insects. Their the only land-dwelling crustacean in North America and they have a flavor that is compared to shrimp.

Grasshoppers and Crickets


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Grasshoppers and Crickets
How to Eat Them





Pull off their heads and their digestive tract (guts, entrails) should just pop right out with it. Throw the head and guts away.
Pull of the wings and legs. This is a grasshopper, not a chicken.
Some foragers suggest pan-frying. I suggest butter, lots of butter.
Add more butter
Don't eat brightly colored crickets or grasshoppers, they could make you sick.

Termites


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Termites
How to Eat Them









Heat a pan
Fry them dry
Think about finding a better GPS as you eat tiny crispy bugs.

Grubs


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Grubs
How to Eat Them





Find stick
Skewer grubs onto stick
Cook over flame until the skin is crisp
Make a mental note to pack emergency trailmix

Worms


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Worms
How to Eat Them





Overlook the fact that earthworms aren't bugs. You're starving and lost in the Michigan wilderness. Things could be worse. It could be Ohio.
Cook them. They can be eaten raw in an EMERGENCY. It's up to what an EMERGENCY is, but cooking is always better than eating a floppy moving dirt stick.
Fry it, flame broil it, baste it, or really think about what led you to the point where you're considering whether or not to cook the worms you are about to eat.

Earwigs


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Earwigs
How to Eat Them







Man c'mon. How hungry are you?
Get a pan
Start a fire
Sautee until crispy. Are you not sure when a bug ISN'T crispy? Me either. I say burn. I like my 'wigs cajun style.

Stinkbugs


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Stinkbugs
How to Eat Them
Turns out you're in luck as these little creepy crawlers are considered a delicacy in Mexico and there really are a ton of recipes online. Just search for them under their Spanish name, 'jumiles' followed by recipes. There's even a stink bug salsa.
That said they can be eaten raw if you're really hungry. If not:





Start fire
Find pan
Put stink bugs in pan
Pull the bug legs out from between your teeth

Maggots


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Maggots
How to Eat Them



Don't watch or think about that scene from The Lost Boys
Place maggots in water
Bring to a boil
Strain water
Don't think about the fact that you're eating a bug, technically it's their larval stage so you've got that going for you. Which is nice.

Aphids


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Aphids
How to Eat Them







Boiling them is really the only way to go.
Forage in the woods for the world's smallest strainer, perhaps left by one of Kebler's elves.
Strain the water, eat the bugs, and stiff around trees for cookie-baking gnomes.

Dragonflies


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Dragonflies
How to Eat Them
Seriously? A dragonfly? Do you know how many tattoos you are spitting on by consuming a dragonfly?
Anyway:



Find a way to cook them, pan, boiling water, it doesn't matter where you're going after you eat Pinterest's favorite insect. Monster.
For more foraging, insect catching, and Michigan outdoor meal prep tips, check out the full article and one more insect that you can survive on, at Backpack.com.



5 Texas-Sized Bugs You'll Find in the Lone Star State
Texas has over 1,000 types of bugs -- some of which are VERY large. Here are 5 large, creepy insects you may spot in the state.


If you want to see every recorded insect in Texas, check out this site.

Tarantula Hawk


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Tarantula Hawk
I hate wasps to begin with, even more when they're super-sized.


The tarantula hawk can measure up to about 2 inches in length and are some of the largest wasps in the world. They have a strong sting and can easily take down a tarantula (spider), hence their name.

Giant Water Bug


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Giant Water Bug
The picture says enough -- no thank you. These insects are rather large with creepy-looking claws. If you're their prey, watch out. The Giant Water Bug has an insect-liquifying venom that transforms prey into mush.

Texas Giant Centipede


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Texas Giant Centipede
This might be one of the biggest bugs you'll see, reaching lengths of about 8 feet! Be wary of these guys, their bites contain a toxin that is painful and may make your body feel numb.


They will prey on larger animals like rodents, and toads, and sometimes even snakes. Yikes.

Cicada Killer


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Cicada Killer
Here we are with yet another giant wasp. The wasp is large enough to sometimes be mistaken for a hummingbird.


You should really stay away from these guys. Some people who have been stung said it feels like being shot by a low-caliber gun.

The Texan Dobsonfly


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The Texan Dobsonfly
This Texas-sized bug is usually found around rivers and streams and is not dangerous. It's wings are so large that it can sound like a bat flying.


Dangerous or not, I'll be staying away from this giant critter.