Scorpions, Tarantulas, Snakes, Oh-My (Austin, Spring: lease, university, store)

[jwb123]

The only thing we do differently here is to keep ant mound killer on hand, and have quarterly pest control come and spray the yard and home. We don't have a bug problem now - we did have ants getting in prior to the quarterly pest control.

We run our dishwasher almost daily - but that's not because of bugs, that's because we have 5 people in the family and mostly our meals are at home, so we go through a lot of dishes.

[ohio2texas]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

Hello,

I am wondering how I will have to alter my behavior to keep bug free in Austin. Any former Northerners have any bits of advice?

Being a "bug-a-phobic" Northerner myself, I was worried about the same things. So far, so good! It will be two years in July that we've been here and the bugs have been very low key. We get the perimeter of our house sprayed every other month and if there is anything found inside, they will take care of it. This is our second company... the first couldn't keep the fire ants away. We haven't had a problem with ants since we switched. It's been quite nice!

As for leaving things out in the house, again, so far so good! We really aren't doing anything different than what we did in Ohio, with the exception of spraying for bugs outside. Taking the few extra steps is so worth living here!

[faithr]

I am sure this has been addressed but now that we are moving the BF is interested in getting the place he bought sprayed for bugs/pests. He knows I am opposed to pesticides as we lost out last two dogs to lymphoma (although not proven conclusively there does appear to be a link between pesticide and lymphoma in both humans and dogs) I am super cautious about using anything with our new puppies.

The pest guy claims that the stuff they use is the least toxic. Of course it is all a trade off- do you worry about a possible cancer or illness due to pesticide or possible worse quality of life for the pups regarding fire ants or other pests. I am going to get the name of the chemical this person uses, but I am curious what others think about pet and child safety while using pesticides.
Thanks....

[TexasHorseLady]

Well, we regularly went to the drive-in theater when my mother used the little spiral thingies that you burned to get rid of roaches in the 1950's, and I've used bug bombs occasionally over the years (before I knew better) while raising kids and pets, and so far no lymphoma (my mother died at 80 of complications of a broken hip she got running from the shower to the phone because she thought it was her boyfriend calling ) or anything else like that. (I'm pushing 60, myself.) But there are much better things to use these days; I'll be curious to see what the chemical is that's recommended.

[xsloane]

I think it is so funny that there is a company that advertises big time on TV and claims to keep your yard "pest, bug and weed free"... Uhh? Do they take off all the lawn and put a carpet on instead?? Oh my! but then you might get fleas!!! Oh, no!!
I think we should all be happy there is so much life left around here. You don't get to see that every where anymore.

[jimmyjack]

One thing to remember about scorpions - in the coming recession they will be a vital source of protein.

[Phisch]

LOL! But are those the kind you find in Austin?

[Trainwreck20]

No, Austins are kind of a tan and yellow.

Striped Bark Scorpion

[msanna]

I had a bit of a colony of spiders around my backporch. I have seen a few black widows and a couple of brown recluse but mostly they are these large black and white spiders. I trimmed the lawn and everything up around the house(Mr. Garden snake came out to say hi and scare me to death). Thought I was safe. Then, I woke up to a VERY painful biting on my arm. I think it may have been a black widow. I have got bit by other spiders before but never has one hurt like that.

[Megan1967]

Dumb Northerner question, but aren't black widows deadly? What about brown recluse? Large black and white spiders???