Nightmare Worms Washing Up on Texas Coastline

A sting worse than burns by fire, an arsenal comprised of hundreds of curved needles and a devilish appearance like no other.

No, I'm not talking about me when I don't eat a Snickers. This is the description of what has been found along the Texas coastline that is turning heads.

What Are These Nightmare Worms Showing Up In Texas?

Well, according to the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Bearded Fireworms, also called bristle worms, are the names of these creatures being spotted on Texas beaches.

These hairy worms look more like underwater caterpillars and feed on various corals, anemones and small crustaceans.

The best part? During mating season, the females head to the surface and begin glowing green. This attracts males that put on their own light show as they hastily approach and their "sex cells are shed and combine"... how romantic.

No Touchy!

I know what you're thinking, and no, you can't pet these cuties.

Fireworms are covered from head to... tail(?) with brittle hairs that closely resemble fiberglass.

I don't know about you, but when I was younger, I would slap these things with my bare hands--

The fiberglass shards were a NIGHTMARE to remove from my skin. Just imagine that, but full of extreme poison that causes nausea and dizziness when stung.

This painful sensation can last hours after first contact, so if you see these anywhere along the Texas coastline, don't touch it! Just call the local authorities and they will worry about removing them safely.