Is it true - there are lots of cockroaches in houston??? (living, moving to)

[houstonlibrarian]

I used to see a lot when I lived in Baytown.

*Knock on wood* In three years of living in Fort Bend County, I have seen maybe one or two in my house.

[AmeriSwede1]

Originally Posted by MrSykes

They are the most disgusting, nauseating, and generally horrifying insects known to exist. Their physical harmlessness is duly outweighed by the sheer psychological terror they inflict on humanity. I always dread late springs in Houston as they signify the official end of the hibernation period for these ghastly slithering incarnations of evil. A good barrier spray usually keeps them at bay, but even the rare chance encounter I might have with one is enough to send me into a state of perpetual shock and dismay for days.

Never had a praying mantis land on your shoulder and stare at you longingly have you?
Happened to me once when I was a kid and still have nightmares about that 30 years later!

[MikeyAusmus]

Roaches aren't a problem if you take a few steps around the house:

1. Don't leave food out
2. Make sure your trash is taken out very regularly
3. Have an exterminator come out once a month for routine spraying

Actually those steps will not only help reduce roaches, but will also help out with other unwanted pests/insects. Unfortunately, insects such as roaches are very common all through out the southern US and contrary to popular belief do affect Dallas/Fort Worth too! =)

[dallasboi]

Originally Posted by MrSykes

They are the most disgusting, nauseating, and generally horrifying insects known to exist. Their physical harmlessness is duly outweighed by the sheer psychological terror they inflict on humanity. I always dread late springs in Houston as they signify the official end of the hibernation period for these ghastly slithering incarnations of evil. A good barrier spray usually keeps them at bay, but even the rare chance encounter I might have with one is enough to send me into a state of perpetual shock and dismay for days.

lol...this sounds like me.....be careful if you swat at one and miss...they fly @ you in defense and could cause you to go into a coma.

[David Dollar]

I don't mind the big ones (which are everywhere), but I have the little nasty ones. Luckily, they aren't any worse here than any other place I have been.

[timtemtym]

My apartments spray monthly for roaches. I keep a clean apartment and never leave dishes in the sink with food on them or food in the disposal and I have a covered trash can in the kitchen.

Keep a clean place, spray regularly and you won't see them except for the giant ones who fly around outside. I haven't had a roach in my place in years. Of course now that I put that in writing, one will show up.

If you live next to a big empty field, you will find bugs no matter what you do, especially when it rains.

[crone]

What Mikey said.

Don't leave uncovered food. I put flour, corn meal, cereal, etc. in containers. I have seen less than 50 water bugs in my house in the 13 years of living here. They have all been dead.

We have had the exterminator less than 5 times in those years, due to spiders. I think whatever is sprayed for mosquitoes also gets those water, palmetto or whatever they are bugs.

[houston-nomad]

I am perplexed by all the talk about food and cleanliness. These big guys come in from the trees outside. They're not like little NYC roaches that are after food.

With these big guys, it is an ongoing battle that unfortunately I find I must fight with chemical weapons. Regular visits from the exterminator to keep them out of my 50-year-old house surrounded by trees. But I'm winning, so far.

[daniepwils]

Like one poster said. There are two different roaches you are thinking about. Cockroaches are the ones that carry disease and surround dirty un kept homes among other places. Then there are the tree roaches that get pretty big and fly around. They are nothing more than an outside bug, like a June bug. It is the smaller cockroaches you should be worrying about.

[nana053]

LOL. Roaches are everywhere in the south. I first came into contact with *paw meadow bugs* (palmetto bugs) in Tampa - we were told that Tampa did not have roaches, they were paw meadow bugs.

I do agree with one poster though who said that the fire ants are worse. Step on a fire ant hill and you will be in pain for days from the bites. Don't go without shoes on the grass here (or anywhere in the south, imo).