Scorpions, Tarantulas, Snakes, Oh-My (Austin, West: coop, kitchen, health)

[Lilly3]

Originally Posted by Phisch

You're not moving from California, are you? The only tarantula visit I've ever heard of was in San Diego. My SIL found one in the trunk of her car. She wasn't too happy.

I've not heard of people finding tarantulas here in Austin. Scorpion? Yeah we found one in our bathroom.

Very good! I meant to say Scorpion but I lived in San Diego and those creatures still haunt me. Sometimes they would cross the roads in bunches....ick. I'm a girl who actually likes bugs too, but those kind freak me out.

[love roses]

I've heard of it, but not so much I'd worry about it. My sister found one in her garage, and a neighbor had one on the backporch once. I've never seen one since I've been here.

[TX-Griff]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

This thread has some bug info in addition to spiders, scorpions and snakes so I thought I'd post my question here.

Is it possible to leave out cat food on the kitchen counter without attracting bugs? I'm pretty sure the answer is no, I just wanted to ask.

I leave wet and dry cat food on the kitchen floor and have never had a problem in the 8+ years I've been here.

Again, as Melann said, if you're moving into a established home/development/neighborhood, you likely won't see any of the grosser creatures Austin & its 'burbs call home. (Unless you're into rooting around in places where they like to dwell like under rocks or dead logs, or traipsing the woods willy-nilly.) It's the new homes/developments that seem to be overrun... a function of the newly-displaced critters learning THEY "can't go home again."

TX-Griff

[xnoelanix]

I see some of you frightened of scorpions, there really is nothing to be scared of. I'm a native San Diegan (Austin is one of our many considerations for moving in the future, can no longer afford San Diego) and we have a canyon for our backyard. A scorpion made its way into our home and poor thing was just looking for a place to live! We just caught him and tossed him back out.

Here's my perspective: if a scorpion stings you, its not a big deal at all! If a brown recluse bites you, necrosis could take a limb off!

I read that brown recluse spiders have a habitat that ranges from central texas to the further southeastern states. I am terrified because I have read about some families finding many in their closets or under their bed! Those bites can do permanent damage!

Anyone in Austin have any input or experience about the more dangerous insects?

[love roses]

My mom was bitten by a recluse in her attic, but she had sort of a reaction to it and got medical attention right away, so she didn't end up with any necrosis or scarring. A friend of my little sisters, however, was bitten by one and didn't know what had happened except that she had a spot on her leg that itched really bad and kept looking worse and worse, so after about a week she went to the doctor and had it treated, but she was left with some scarring. You also should be aware of fire ants and killer (africanized) bees.

[IC_deLight]

Originally Posted by xnoelanix

I see some of you frightened of scorpions, there really is nothing to be scared of. I'm a native San Diegan (Austin is one of our many considerations for moving in the future, can no longer afford San Diego) and we have a canyon for our backyard. A scorpion made its way into our home and poor thing was just looking for a place to live! We just caught him and tossed him back out.

Here's my perspective: if a scorpion stings you, its not a big deal at all! If a brown recluse bites you, necrosis could take a limb off!

I read that brown recluse spiders have a habitat that ranges from central texas to the further southeastern states. I am terrified because I have read about some families finding many in their closets or under their bed! Those bites can do permanent damage!

Anyone in Austin have any input or experience about the more dangerous insects?

Scorpions are part of the arachnid family - not insects. General rule is - smaller the pincers, the more potent the venom. The scorpions in Austin have very small claws. They are not considered deadly, but certainly people can be allergic to them and the stings are more painful than wasp stings. Unless you are in an area of Austin that has been developed for decades, you will have to employ pest control for scorpions.

You will have to annually dust the attic. If you buy new construction, you will have several years of hearing occasional "click" noises at the onset of scorpion season. When the hatchlings come out of the attic, they will often exit around the lighting fixtures. They fall onto the tile, hence the "click". It's not as horrendous as you might think - kind of like getting an occasional wasp in the house - unless you are in new construction in the countryside. After a few seasons, however, you should be able to control it.

We see occasional tarantulas crossing the roads/driveways in the subdivision (you can definitely see them while perched in the driver's seat of an SUV). However, I've only seen 1-2/year. You will probably encounter those little black jumping spiders a few times per season with your deck furniture, but these mainly just look scary.

Aside from chemical treatments, residents learn to use gloves when picking up and moving furniture, old boxes, etc. You do not reach into wood piles to grab wood - you use something to pull the wood from the pile. This helps avoid snakebites too. We have a lot more insects - as well as the critters that eat the insects.
Entomology Publications

[xnoelanix]

Originally Posted by IC_deLight

Scorpions are part of the arachnid family - not insects. General rule is - smaller the pincers, the more potent the venom. The scorpions in Austin have very small claws. They are not considered deadly, but certainly people can be allergic to them and the stings are more painful than wasp stings. Unless you are in an area of Austin that has been developed for decades, you will have to employ pest control for scorpions.

You will have to annually dust the attic. If you buy new construction, you will have several years of hearing occasional "click" noises at the onset of scorpion season. When the hatchlings come out of the attic, they will often exit around the lighting fixtures. They fall onto the tile, hence the "click". It's not as horrendous as you might think - kind of like getting an occasional wasp in the house - unless you are in new construction in the countryside. After a few seasons, however, you should be able to control it.

We see occasional tarantulas crossing the roads/driveways in the subdivision (you can definitely see them while perched in the driver's seat of an SUV). However, I've only seen 1-2/year. You will probably encounter those little black jumping spiders a few times per season with your deck furniture, but these mainly just look scary.

Aside from chemical treatments, residents learn to use gloves when picking up and moving furniture, old boxes, etc. You do not reach into wood piles to grab wood - you use something to pull the wood from the pile. This helps avoid snakebites too. We have a lot more insects - as well as the critters that eat the insects.
Entomology Publications

Thank you for your response!

...but you didn't mention the brown recluse, which is my only worry. Tarantulas are nothing new and nothing to worry about for me, we catch them and keep them as pets over here in San Diego.

I would definitely be cleaning every nook and cranny frequently if we end up moving to your region!

[Phisch]

I had to resurrect this post. Look what we found in Barton Creek:


(shoe for size reference)

Is it a millipede or centipede? He sure smelled when tapped with a twig and he curled up, just like the little ones do:

[rhino85]

I have lived in Austin, not way out in the burbs most of my life and have seen one scorpion back when I was 6...almost 30 now! That was the one time I actually lived out in the burbs in a new neighborhood. I do not know of really anyone who has scorpions in thir homes or apartments IN Austin, but there are exceptions to everything. I am just a city boy, hate things that sting and bite, not cool!

[Trainwreck20]

I can't tell from the pic, but techinically, I think one pair of legs per segment makes him a centipede and more than one pair per segment makes him a millipede.