How Bad Are The Bugs? (spider, winter, American)

[Just Lookin]

Originally Posted by amjb

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!!

To funny.

We have fire ants here in Calif. I just spray the heck out of them. We also have the big black and red ants.

I found out the hard way once, by standing in them while planting a tree. Didn't know they were there and when they started biting me, I ran so fast to the house tearing off clothes. It was very painful I say that.

[texasdreamin]

I tried looking up a comparison photo, but couldn't find one. The ones I saw were all over the ground and they looked kinda red and were fat. They were close to 1/4 inch. I had never seen anything like it and thought they were fire ants.

[sheri kent]

I moved from Port Aransas Texas (the beach) where the roaches of all kinds were very prevalent due to the humidity and palm trees, however relocated to a rural area north of Dallas " WHITEWRIGHT TX " ( not due to the roaches ) and was surprised to not see one roach . I was so happy yet curious as to why, only to find out that they just have different bugs up here. not so much inside, and defintenlty not inside bugs for us here, the ones i have seen, seem to be seasonal, like crickets in the spring followed by the june bugs, ( which i found out that country dogs eat like popcorn ) I am in real estate and i feel like the building and new developement that goes on can cause alot of bugs to apear, considering the fact that scorpions, centipedes roasches and all other bugs can live dorment in the earth till they are intruded upon, (where they gonna go ?) "GONNA'Texas word, used alot here means "going to" get use to it along with many other slang verbage...all in all, Texas is a great state, lots to see and friendly people most of the time. Hope this helps...Safe sails and happy trails...Opening doors throughout Texas...Sheri Kent

[Trainwreck20]

I tried looking up a comparison photo, but couldn't find one. The ones I saw were all over the ground and they looked kinda red and were fat. They were close to 1/4 inch. I had never seen anything like it and thought they were fire ants.

Fire ants are pretty small and not fat at all. They look harmless, unless you know better. The 1/4 inch ants that are red are probably red ants, which usually have big circular 'mounds' (actually, very flat) and cut trails through the grass. They are very innocuous, they just look dangerous . There are few left around here, since the fire ants have about wiped em out.

[texasdreamin]

Trainwreck, that's probably what they were. They LOOK dangerous, though. When I saw them I figured they'd make a BIG dent in a watermelon.

[glocklin]

You are creeping me out. But I am willing to live with bugs if my husband and I can land a job in the area so we can be near our kids. We freeze bugs here in Oregon along with ourselves.

[KewGee]

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's a disgusting, putrid and very offensive odor. Two things contribute to most cricket odor, dampness and death. If you ever smell it, you'll never forget it.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by texasdreamin

I tried looking up a comparison photo, but couldn't find one. The ones I saw were all over the ground and they looked kinda red and were fat. They were close to 1/4 inch. I had never seen anything like it and thought they were fire ants.

They very well could be carpenter (wood) ants. They are extremely destructive and can do termite-like damage.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by amjb

It's a disgusting, putrid and very offensive odor. Two things contribute to most cricket odor, dampness and death. If you ever smell it, you'll never forget it.

Ain't that the truth. The two worst infestations that I remember happened in the 90's. One in about 1991 and the other in the late 90's. HORRID!!!! You could see them swarming in the air around the street lights at night. GROSS!!!!!! Then another good reason to NOT shop at Walmart........ I went to a new one and they had been spraying them and they were all dead in the parking lot and all around the building, at the doors, EVERYWHERE!!!!!!! The ground covered in black, dead, rotting crickets. The smell of poison and the stench from the crickets was BAD!!!!!!! They never even bothered to sweep them up.

If you keep your house treated you won't have this problem at your home.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Ain't that the truth. The two worst infestations that I remember happened in the 90's. One in about 1991 and the other in the late 90's. HORRID!!!! You could see them swarming in the air around the street lights at night. GROSS!!!!!! Then another good reason to NOT shop at Walmart........ I went to a new one and they had been spraying them and they were all dead in the parking lot and all around the building, at the doors, EVERYWHERE!!!!!!! The ground covered in black, dead, rotting crickets. The smell of poison and the stench from the crickets was BAD!!!!!!! They never even bothered to sweep them up.

If you keep your house treated you won't have this problem at your home.

A few years ago, they were getting in my house but for some reason, it only happened one year or I should say, one autumn. I learned quickly not to use the vacuum. I haven't had them since unless one sneaks in when I open the door.

I don't have my home treated unless I treat it myself which is very infrequently. I'm lucky not to have bugs since I live in Texas.

I hate the flying little yucks!!

Thanks for your post.