Snakes and spiders in Bosque County, Texas
Bosque County, home of Meridian, has 19 snake and 7 spider species on record, from 432 licensed snake and 31 spider records. Venomous species here: the western diamondback rattlesnake and the broad-banded copperhead.
Are there venomous snakes or spiders in Bosque County?
Yes. The western diamondback rattlesnake: 8 licensed records, 0% of all Texas records of it. The broad-banded copperhead: 5 licensed records, 1% of all Texas records of it.
What snakes are in Bosque County?
In all, 19 snake species are on the Bosque County list. The most recorded are the flathead snake (155), the western ground snake (55) and the western worm snake (48). Bosque County holds more than half of all Texas records of the western worm snake.
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flathead snake Tantilla gracilis | 155 | 16% |
| 2 | Western ground snake Sonora semiannulata | 55 | 3% |
| 3 | Western worm snake Carphophis vermis | 48 | 86% |
| 4 | Rough earthsnake Haldea striatula | 32 | 2% |
| 5 | Texas blind snake Rena dulcis | 29 | 3% |
| 6 | Central plains milksnake Lampropeltis gentilis | 14 | 22% |
| 7 | Ring-necked snake Diadophis punctatus | 12 | 3% |
| 8 | Western ribbon snake Thamnophis proximus | 11 | 0% |
| 9 | Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous Crotalus atrox | 8 | 0% |
| 10 | Western rat snake Pantherophis obsoletus | 7 | 0% |
| 11 | Rough greensnake Opheodrys aestivus | 6 | 1% |
| 12 | Broad-banded copperhead venomous Agkistrodon laticinctus | 5 | 1% |
| 13 | Eastern racer Coluber constrictor | 4 | 1% |
| 14 | Plain-bellied watersnake Nerodia erythrogaster | 4 | 0% |
| 15 | Gopher snake Pituophis catenifer | 3 | 0% |
| 16 | Great Plains rat snake Pantherophis emoryi | 3 | 0% |
| 17 | Diamondback water snake Nerodia rhombifer | 2 | 0% |
| 18 | Coachwhip Masticophis flagellum | 1 | 0% |
| 19 | Eastern hog-nosed snake Heterodon platirhinos | 1 | 0% |
What spiders are in Bosque County?
In all, 7 spider species are on the Bosque County list. The most recorded are the bold jumper (3), the green lynx spider (3) and the black-and-yellow argiope (2).
| # | Species | Records | Share of Texas records |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bold jumper Phidippus audax | 3 | 0% |
| 2 | Green lynx spider Peucetia viridans | 3 | 0% |
| 3 | Black-and-yellow argiope Argiope aurantia | 2 | 0% |
| 4 | Furrow orbweaver Larinioides cornutus | 2 | 2% |
| 5 | Rabid wolf spider Rabidosa rabida | 1 | 0% |
| 6 | Texas brown tarantula Aphonopelma hentzi | 1 | 0% |
| 7 | Pardosa mercurialis | — | — |
When are spiders out in Bosque County?
Observation records of spiders in Bosque County run mostly February through October, peaking in July with 32% of them; across Texas the peak is April.
What stands out in Bosque County
Species for which Bosque County holds a large share of all Texas records: the western worm snake, 86% (48 of 56); the central plains milksnake, 22% (14 of 65); the flathead snake, 16% (155 of 946).
Common in Texas, not on the Bosque County list
Among the snakes most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: the checkered garter snake (1,851 statewide), the eastern copperhead (1,188 statewide) and the DeKay's brown snake (1,037 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Among the spiders most recorded across Texas, these do not reach the county list: Hogna antelucana (805 statewide), the spiny-backed orbweaver (751 statewide), the twin-flagged jumping spider (669 statewide), the striped lynx spider (579 statewide), the familiar jumping spider (518 statewide) and Cicurina varians (514 statewide). Few records here can mean the species is rare in the county, or that few people have looked.
Harmless lookalikes in Bosque County
Copperheads are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the central plains milksnake, the plain-bellied watersnake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No cottonmouths reach the county list, but the northern cottonmouth is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the plain-bellied watersnake and the diamondback water snake. Rattlesnakes are on the county list, and so are harmless species often taken for them: the gopher snake, the Great Plains rat snake and the eastern hog-nosed snake. No coral snakes reach the county list, but the Texas coral snake is on the Texas list: treat any snake like it as venomous until identified. Harmless species often taken for them here: the central plains milksnake.
Bosque County among Texas counties
By licensed snake records Bosque County ranks 20th of 254 Texas counties with any.
Other Texas counties with their own page: Travis County, Brewster County, Harris County, Brazos County, El Paso County, Jeff Davis County, Val Verde County and Bexar County.
The whole state: venomous species in Texas, all snakes, all spiders.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.