CREEPY CRAWLIES
Gulf experts warn Texas beachgoers about nightmare stinging fireworms
Researcher Jace Tunnel holds a nightmarish fire worm.
Heads up, Gulf vacationers: Officials are sounding the alarm about a creepy critter that could ruin your next beach trip. The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies says that fireworms, a centipede-like sea creature with sharp bristles, are once again washing up on Texas shores.
Researcher Jace Tunnel posted the warning in a Facebook photo series detailing a recent beachcombing expedition. Along with benign finds like lost stuffed animals, seashells, and seeds, the explorer encountered a slithery pair of fireworms feeding on a pile of gooseneck barnacles.
Although voracious predators, fireworms are not usually a threat to humans. But their common name should give any beachgoer pause if they encounter them in the wild. The hollow bristles can inject a potent neurotoxin that can cause painful burning, nausea, and dizziness.
“[I]t literally feels like fire for about three hours,” explained the institute in a 2024 post. “Your skin can feel sensitive in the sting site for weeks, depending on where it stung you.”
The bristle worms are native to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean and are most commonly found near coral reefs. Although not a new sight in the Gulf of Mexico, they are rare enough to cause a stir. When angler Alyssia Ramirez posted a 2020 video of catching a fireworm, it made international news, according to Corpus Christi NBC affiliate KRIS 6.
While the risk of getting stung by the washed-up amphinomids is relatively slim, WebMD says the treatment is relatively simple. Affected swimmers should apply vinegar or isopropyl alcohol to the affected area, then remove the bristles with tweezers or adhesive tape. Inflammation and burning can be treated with over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Although painful, the neurotoxin is not potent enough to be deadly.
Fireworms are not the only nightmare creature causing a stir in Texas this year. In late June, the Texas Animal Health Commission and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department formed a task force to battle screwworms, a parasite that threatens the state's wildlife and cattle.
Fearless Texans can watch Tunnel's close encounter with fireworms — and other beachcombing expeditions — via the institute's YouTube channel.
