Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Final Rule to List Nine Bexar County, Texas Invertebrate Species as Endangered

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine nine cave-dwelling invertebrates from Bexar County, Texas, to be endangered species under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Rhadine exilis (no common name) and Rhadine infernalis (no common name) are small, essentially eyeless ground beetles. Batrisodes venyivi (Helotes mold beetle) is a small, eyeless beetle. Texella cokendolpheri (Robber Baron Cave harvestman) is a small, eyeless harvestman (daddy-longlegs). Cicurina baronia (Robber Baron cave spider), Cicurina madla (Madla's cave spider), Cicurina venii (no common name), Cicurina vespera (vesper cave spider), and Neoleptoneta microps (Government Canyon cave spider) are all small, eyeless or essentially eyeless spiders. These species (referred to in this final rule as the nine invertebrates) are known from karst topography (limestone formations containing caves, sinks, fractures and fissures) in north and northwest Bexar County. Threats to the species and their habitat include destruction and/or deterioration of habitat by construction; filling of caves and karst features and loss of permeable cover; contamination from septic effluent, sewer leaks, run-off, pesticides, and other sources; predation by and competition with nonnative fire ants; and vandalism. This action will implement Federal protection provided by the Act for these species. We based our decision on the best available information, including that received during public comment on the proposal to list these species.