How Bad Are The Bugs? (Houston, Dallas: apartment, condos, townhome)

[wallstreet1986]

I don't mind some kinds of bugs but I absolutely cannot stand or live with cockroaches. They freak me out and I cannot rest until I kill them all. It makes you afraid to walk around or even go in your own kitchen.

Also I think I would react the same way to scorpions.

That being said do you all see these critters a lot in your own homes even if it is well kept and clean? Are there any parts of Texas where it gets better ie when you get out of the humidity?

Texas may have a booming economy and low housing costs but if I'm scared ****less to live in my own house that would just about end it for me.

[Synopsis]

I live in the DFW metroplex and honestly, bugs aren't that big of a problem in our house and we don't even spray any chemicals around. I guess on average we'll see a single cockroach (which I've grown to hate as well) about once a month, which is still too often for me but you'll see them that often just about anywhere.

[I LOVE NORTH CAROLINA]

Originally Posted by wallstreet1986

I don't mind some kinds of bugs but I absolutely cannot stand or live with cockroaches. They freak me out and I cannot rest until I kill them all. It makes you afraid to walk around or even go in your own kitchen.

Also I think I would react the same way to scorpions.

That being said do you all see these critters a lot in your own homes even if it is well kept and clean? Are there any parts of Texas where it gets better ie when you get out of the humidity?

Texas may have a booming economy and low housing costs but if I'm scared ****less to live in my own house that would just about end it for me.

Better not come to Houston

[Just Lookin]

Are you talking about cockroachs or those big black beatle bugs. The one's that put up their behinds when something threatens them. I mean, why would you have cockroachs all over Texas. We only see them in very dirty places.

[Trainwreck20]

The cockroaches tend to be more common in the humid environs, but you will see them just about anywhere there are people. In a stand-alone home in Austin/Dallas/San Antonio, it is relatively easy to keep free of them, but in apts/condos, it can be difficult if the neighbors are not as 'clean' as you. In Houston/Corpus/Beaumont it can be a struggle, even in a very clean environment.

In any case, in even the most sterile of homes, you will see them occasionally.

Scorpions, on the other hand, are pretty much unrelated to cleanliness. They tend to be much more of a problem in rural areas or newly developed subdivisions that used to be rural. They are almost impossible to exterminate for any length of time, and it you are really worried about them, do not move out into the countyside in the hill country. I don't think there are nearly as many in the eastern part of the state (I think they prefer the rocky soil).

[jmacksgirl]

just moved out of Texas in April, and there is a cockroach problem there, doesnt matter how clean you are, they will live outside of your house and then eventually come inside. I am not talking about those nasty little roaches, but the flying ones that are big. I lived in Lacy Lakeview (between Waco and Hillsboro, about 1 1/2hrs from Dallas) and they were definitely outside in the grass, near the a/c unit and in the storage shed, and a few did make it inside. Exterminating helped but they are there. I can deal with those much better than I can the banana spiders that have taken up residence every other week in my Central FL home!!!

[momof2dfw]

Can NOT stand roaches. EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! GROSS! Don't like many bugs to start with. I don't see a roach once a year but I have a pest control company that comes once every three months and sprays inside and out. The only reason we started using someone years ago was because of where we live, very near a golf course, creek and woods and our yard has a pool and LOTS of landscaping. So I don't want to see any critter - spiders, snakes, rats, roaches, fleas, etc. If you live right by a lake spiders are the biggest problem, mostly their webs. These are typically just small spiders and nothing to worry about really. I've been to a lot of places in the country that had more bug problems than we do in the Dallas area.

I'll agree that a single family home is a lot easier to take care of than one that is attached (apartment, condo, townhome, duplex, etc).

Why do people automatically assume that we have some kind of huge bug problem in Texas? Especially people that have never been here. I just don't get that. Like we are something like the bug capitol of the world. LOL!!! I've seen just as many bugs in some parts of California and Florida that I do here.

[Just Lookin]

Banana Spiders EWWW!! Those are sickening.
We have Scorpions here in Calif but hardly see any. Maybe once a year.

[Trainwreck20]

Why do people automatically assume that we have some kind of huge bug problem in Texas? Especially people that have never been here. I just don't get that. Like we are something like the bug capitol of the world. LOL!!! I've seen just as many bugs in some parts of California and Florida that I do here.

There are 'statistically' more bugs in Texas than a lot of other places; however, FL and CA are also way up on the bug count. Anyplace that does not have regular hard freezes throughout the winter will be a bug heaven. Most of CA, FL, and TX fit the bill. High humidity seems to be a factor as well.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

There are 'statistically' more bugs in Texas than a lot of other places; however, FL and CA are also way up on the bug count. Anyplace that does not have regular hard freezes throughout the winter will be a bug heaven. Most of CA, FL, and TX fit the bill. High humidity seems to be a factor as well.

True on that account but it is not like every house is crawling with them. To me a "bug problem" is when you see them in your house all the time or if we have a locust feast on crops or such.