Venomous prickly fireworms are washing up on Texas beaches. What to do if one stings

Your worst nightmare has emerged along the Texas coast — that's how experts have described it, at least.

Venomous prickly fireworms, with dozens of needle-like spikes, are washing up on beaches near Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, according to the Harte Research Institute for the Gulf of Mexico Studies, a division of Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi.

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"Your worst nightmares are washing up right now in the form of fireworms!" Harte Research Institute wrote on Facebook . "We’ve found a few of these marine polychaetes, sometimes called bristle worms, washing up over the past couple of days on large logs."

The institute believes the invertebrate are feeding on the gooseneck barnacles that covered the logs.

What are prickly fireworms?

Scientifically known as Hermodice carunculata , fireworms are commonly found in coral reefs, rocky areas and seagrass beds in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico — which includes all of the Texas coastline.

When disturbed, they extend their bristles as a defense mechanism. The tiny bristles are filled with a mixture of neurotoxins and break off when touched.

“The fireworms get their name because of the pain they inflict on anyone that dares to touch them; it literally feels like fire for about three hours," wrote the Harte Research Institute.

The aquatic worm is typically between five and ten centimeters long but can grow up to 35 centimeters, or more than a foot, according to Lamar University . Their increased presence on Texas beaches could be related to changing ocean currents, weather patterns or other environmental factors.

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What to do if stung by a prickly fireworm

As summer weather comes to a close, beachgoers are encouraged to remain vigilant amid these creatures' growing presence.

If pricked by their poisonous spikes, the National Park Service recommends using adhesive tape for removal to prevent them from getting stuck elsewhere on the body.

"Your skin can feel sensitive in the sting site for weeks depending on where it stung you," the institute wrote on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Venomous prickly fireworms are washing up on Texas beaches. What to do if one stings