How Bad Are The Bugs? (Dallas, Port Aransas: real estate, house, scorpions)

[TootsieWootsie]

Awww...come on, WallStreet1986, you will get over them. The tree roaches, as they were called in Houston, are about 1-1/2" long and do fly. They can get in anybody's house--and cleanliness has nothing to do with it.
When I first saw one (coming from Chicago where I never saw a roach in my house), I freaked out. My attorney niece freaked out. Everyone freaks out when they first see them. But--eventually--you just get an exterminator in every quarter or every six months to spray so that, even if they do fly in, they are killed quickly upon lighting in your house. No biggie.
Frankly, my cat killed most of the ones that got in at night. My suggestion is to get a roach killing kitty.
But you do get over these tree roaches and being scared of them. Really....

[KewGee]

I live in Central Texas and do not have cockroaches, but I can tell you they are very well running the area. I know they're very common in Texas. When I bought my home years ago, the people that had been here left them for me, but I didn't know that until after I moved in. The place wasn't overrun with them but I'd get up at night and see about seven on my kitchen counter. I'm like you; I couldn't rest with those nasty things around. I would then purposely get up at night to see where they were going. I then proceeded to go nuts and take everything out of my cupboards and spray, powder, and everything else. It didn't take too many nights of real diligence to rid my home of them. And I've not had them back so loosing sleep was well worth it.

Every now and then, I'll see one but he or she will be short-lived. They say one can even bring them home from a sack of onions or potatoes purchased at the market. I have never had those giant ones or flying ones, thank goodness.

This is just my opinion but I really don't think one needs to pay someone to rid one's home of them. I really think that's a crock. My daughter who lives in Grand Prairie has a guy come once a month but that doesn't mean she doesn't still see a bug and she is absolutely looney when it comes to bugs, even bees. I've tried to convince her to take care of the bug spraying herself but as yet, she won't listen. Honestly, RAID will do it. Just spray around your baseboards, under sinks, by the doors that lead outside and the problem will be solved.

I haven't seen a scorpion in years and about two weeks ago, one was crawling across my kitchen floor. I got chills like I did the first one I had to kill when I first moved here 28 years ago. I shrieked and moaned and one would have thought I was sick or something. They are ever so creepy. One time about 15 years ago I was lying in bed having awakened in the early morning. I looked up at the ceiling and right above me was a scorpion crawling on the ceiling. I again went ballistic. I've heard many times of people being stung while sleeping. I was stung twice, once while washing dishes and once while walking.

Apparently, one had been in the sink and I didn't know it when I filled it with water. It hurt but not as badly had he not been half drowned. The other time, I had left my walking shoes on my back patio and put them one. I was lucky this time too because while I was walking, I felt a sharp jabbing pain in my foot, took off my shoe, and out fell a scorpion. I guess he didn't get a good shot either because I was stepping on him. Freaky!!

I'm from Burbank CA and I can tell you we never had cockroaches or scorpions. I think we had more flies out there but in Texas, they must die from the heat because I really hardly ever have a fly in the house.

Mosquitoes are absolutely awful here. If the wind isn't blowing, don't sit outside in the early morning or evening or you'll be eaten alive. Another thing that took me years to be able to handle was June bugs. Oh gosh, they're so creepy. They fly like they're drunk and then land wherever. If they land on a person, it's pretty creepy. They make a horrid buzzing noise and the feel of their legs is so gross. I can actually pick one up now, so I've come a long way in 28 years. Actually, picking one up has only occurred in the past few years.

We had an outside revival at my church a few years after I moved here. It was held under a tabernacle on a spring evening. They were flying all over the place and I was so nervous. Finally one hit me on the head and I ran out from under the tabernacle and was flinging my arms all over the place. I refrained from screaming but ran up to the church and went inside. I guess everyone thought I was really struck by the Holy Spirit.

In all honesty, this place is full of bugs and I was absolutely shocked when I moved here from CA.

[wallstreet1986]

Sounds like I'm going to live in the Southeast then where you put down roachtraps and see them from time to time but not if well exterminated. I could never handle a scorpion. Roaches are bad but yeah scorpions are just too bad.

Shame that places like Burbank are so awful now and unaffordable.

[GoPadge]

The "monster" roaches everyone talks about in the US are American Cockroaches, although there are other large species as well. For the most part I haven't found them to be a real nusance. Routine cleaning, a quarterly or semiannual spraying, and two cats help keep their numbers down to manageable levels. (IE. I only see dead ones.)

Most species of roaches prefer warm moist environments, which is why you tend to see more in the home during winter. Interestingly enough, roaches appear to show some group social interaction.

[jread]

It depends on where you're talking about. You cannot lump "Texas" into one big category.... if you're going to move to the humid areas of East Texas, you'll have bugs all over the place. If you're in El Paso, though, you're in the desert and you'll hardly see anything.

[BobTex]

There are multiple specie of roaches. The ones typically asociated with filth are "German" (lighter brown, thin and 3/4" to 1" long)and "Oriental"( more round or oblong, kinda amber/brown and maybe a bit bigger).

The "**** roach" most of you are think of is what we always called tree roaches. 1 1/2" to 2" long, fly but awkwardly, and are very dark brown almost black, and very shiny. They come into houses in search of 1. darkness, 2.water, 3. more hospitable climate. These critters are not attracted to filth but rather warmth inside when it's cool out, etc. They live in the trees, under woodpiles, deep grass, old structures (sheds, well houses, in my shop(yuk).

They even freak me out with their size, speed, and flying ability but they won't hurt you......and they're really susceptible to sprays and baits so they can be controlled.....got that CONTROLLED! They will show up in the cleanest of houses,especially moreso along the coastal areas (perfect environment) and usually will show themselves when you have company over .....don't know how theyknow that but they do!

The other smaller species need regular spraying to CONTROL and are much worse in apartment complexes or even NEAR them. They also can carry disease I think......and they really grosss me out!....their presence is indicative of filth somewhere.


As far as other bugs.....heck they just come with the territory....all kinds. Late spring and early summer are worse. Take an early AM drive before daylight or just after dark and see what flying critters your headlights attract to your windshield. We also have the bi-annual infestation of the South American love bugs or telephone bugs (they say hello and then hang-up). Where I live we have half a dozen different kinds of ants, numerous wasps (2 main specie), honey bees and yellow jackets (see my post from August about getting into them), hornets in the woods (I've never in my life been stung by one), cow ants (ground dwelling wasp whose sting is said to be so painful as to kill a cow......never been stung by one of them either), etc, etc, etc,..........the list is endless!

Oh, don't forget the mosquitoes on the coast.....try staying out at the beach once the wind dies and the sun goes down.....your carcass will be found later completely drained of blood! Well gotta run.......kids have Brealfast with Santa this AM!

Y'all have a good one!

Bob

[plaidmom]

Oh my gosh, you guys are bringing back the memories...

Nothing says "Texas" like the 6 a.m-in-the-shower tree-roach surprise!

And no one has mentioned the crickets!!! Or have those been pesticided away? I *still* remember my frist night-time trip to the HEB in the Fall. The walls were big black moving masses. As I drove out of the parking lot I remember that crunching sound....

Oh...and what about the FIRE ANTS??? Darn those buggers can sting!

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by plaidmom

Oh my gosh, you guys are bringing back the memories...

Nothing says "Texas" like the 6 a.m-in-the-shower tree-roach surprise!

And no one has mentioned the crickets!!! Or have those been pesticided away? I *still* remember my frist night-time trip to the HEB in the Fall. The walls were big black moving masses. As I drove out of the parking lot I remember that crunching sound....

Oh...and what about the FIRE ANTS??? Darn those buggers can sting!

Oh yes, how could I forget the crickets. They're rampant here and how they stink. When one sneaks into your home, do not suck it into a vacuum cleaner for any reason or you will be overwhelmed by the stench!!

[texasdreamin]

Crickets stink?? What kind of smell is it? I've been around crickets before, but I've never smelled one.

When I was in Texas a few weeks ago, I was walking through some property with an agent and I saw a bunch of fat, juicy ants skittering on a trail. They were large. I asked him if they were fire ants and he said, no. He called them something else, but I can't remember what he said they were. Do you know?

[Steel Man]

Originally Posted by texasdreamin

Crickets stink?? What kind of smell is it? I've been around crickets before, but I've never smelled one.

When I was in Texas a few weeks ago, I was walking through some property with an agent and I saw a bunch of fat, juicy ants skittering on a trail. They were large. I asked him if they were fire ants and he said, no. He called them something else, but I can't remember what he said they were. Do you know?

It could be a leaf cutter ant. Fire ants are small, and most of the time you will not feel them on you...until they bite!