Texas webspinner

Systematic position. The Texas webspinner (Oligotoma texana) is a member of the order Embioptera, family Oligotomidae. These insects are biologically distinctive for their ability to spin silk galleries using specialized silk-producing glands located on their fore-tarsi, providing them with safe microhabitats.

Biology and life cycle. Oligotoma texana undergoes incomplete metamorphosis. The lifecycle is highly adapted to humid environments where they build intricate web tunnels. Females are known for their maternal behavior, guarding the eggs and nymphs within these silk structures, which provide protection from environmental fluctuations and predators.

Crops and damage patterns. These insects are often found in areas with decaying organic matter but can occasionally feed on living plant tissue. They primarily damage the surface of stems, bark, and roots that are in contact with moist soil. The presence of dense silk webbing around the base of plants is the most common diagnostic sign of infestation.

Economic importance. While not always a primary agricultural pest, the Texas webspinner can cause significant distress to nursery stock, young trees, and certain garden crops. By feeding on the bark or outer layers of the plant, they create lesions that serve as entry points for fungi, bacteria, and viral pathogens, ultimately compromising the plant's health.

Protection measures. Management focuses on sanitation to remove potential nesting sites.

• Keep the base of plants clean and free of heavy mulch or leaf litter.
• Maintain proper drainage to reduce local humidity levels.
• Use systemic or contact insecticides when webbing colonies are detected on valuable specimens.