Texas bugs!! (Houston, Dallas, Austin: apartment complex, house, scorpion)

[calimama]

I am seriously considering a move to Texas from California, and there are some things that concern me. One of my major issues is the bugs. I have heard all kinds of horror stories about the huge bugs that are everywhere and there are even flying cockroaches??!!! Are these kinds of things mostly in the country, or the bigger cities like Dallas or Austin? Can anyone tell me which areas are the worst? My husband keeps telling me that he won't even think about moving us to Texas because he doesn't think I can deal with the bugs and that just seems like kind of a silly reason not to move somewhere.

[Lakewooder]

Yes it's silly. You can find many threads here about uninformed outsiders asking about bugs.

[cubssoxfan]

Some as big as Godzilla, right?

[calimama]

Excuse my ignorance. I figured the best way for us "outsiders" to find out about your state was to ask the locals. Nevermind.

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by calimama

Excuse my ignorance. I figured the best way for us "outsiders" to find out about your state was to ask the locals. Nevermind.

I don't think Lakewooder was being rude...it's just that there are SO MANY threads on here re: bugs and critters. Just click on search and type in bugs and Texas and I'm sure a multitude of threads will pop up for you to read.

Bugs and Texas should be made a sticky because there are so many people asking about them. I'm sure the locals get tired of repeating themselves.

What part of Texas were you thinking about relocating to? I know the Austin forum has tons of threads about bugs, fire ants, snakes.... There are even pictures posted

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by calimama

Excuse my ignorance. I figured the best way for us "outsiders" to find out about your state was to ask the locals. Nevermind.

You're not ignorant. When someone has lived in CA, they haven't a clue about Texas bugs. I'm an ex-Californian (well, I'll always be one at heart), so here is my take on bugs. I've lived here for 30 years and am basically used to them for the most part. Now tornadoes and bad storms, I'll never get used to.

Anyway, when I saw my first scorpion in the living room, I almost went crazy. I was freaking out and didn't quite know what to do when his tail was going insane and he was racing across the floor. Anyway, I finally ran and got a glass and put it over him until I could calm down and smash the living daylights out of him. I see scorpions only rarely and when I do, I still freak somewhat, yelp and hollar, get chills, and then kill the sucker.

One morning several years ago I awakened, looked up at the ceiling, and there was one crawling on the ceiling. I'm sooooooo glad he didn't land in the bed. I've been stung twice. One was in my shoe which I left it outside and another was in the sink. I didn't realize it and filled it up with water to do the dishes and he stung me. Both times though, it wasn't a really "hefty" per se sting because my foot was squashing him and he did get a great shot and in the water, he wasn't at his best.

Cockroaches I do not have although when I first bought my second house in Texas, they were living here. They were the typical filthy and nasty kind. I did not quit until I wiped them out and I did it myself with poison, no professional.

Yes, there are huge cockroaches that do fly. I've only see a few of them, and they are rather scary. I've never had one in my home.

June bugs was one of the most bothersome bugs that I met when moving here. They don't harm anyone, but that buzzing and bomb-diving when they move about the air drives me nuts especially when they land on me. I can actually now say that for a few years, I've been able to pick them up when they land on the floor and toss them out the door. I still get the chills because they feel so creepy. They only get in the house after dark because they're attracted to light whether it be on a porch or inside the home. So when someone opens a door, it's pretty certain a few will come in.

Crickets are nasty nuisances too with their chirping and flying. They are worse when cooler weather approaches and then they try to get inside a warmer area like one's home.

There are many other bugs that are bothersome and I could go on and on. You may get a little used to them after time, but they're really not bad in one's home if you don't let it get bad.

I hope these comments help somewhat.

[Kootr]

I'm entering a Texas bug in the State Fair rodeo this fall. That thing is so big I don't have a saddle that will fit him!

[Canine*Castle]

Originally Posted by Kooter

I'm entering a Texas bug in the State Fair rodeo this fall. That thing is so big I don't have a saddle that will fit him!

Many people have a bug phobia or just plain don't like them. I don't think being silly when someone from out-of-state asks questions about the bugs in Texas does anyone any good. It isn't helping the person who hasn't a clue about Texas' bugs and it surely isn't being friendly, but rude and condescending. Texas does have big bugs....isn't everything bigger in Texas?

[ShaneSA]

I gave up fighting the bugs. I put a pet door in the kitchen so they could come and go as they please.
In actuallity, bugs in Texas are not as bad as some cities. New York and LA have roaches bigger than Texas. The big roaches are actually water bugs and harmless. The new areas of developement have bug and scorpiuan problems becasue they are developing in areas that previously were the bugs domain(scorpians). they tend to stay around...it was thier home first.
It's no worse in Texas than any other place.

[pacific_trader]

Get some of that Raid that comes in the blue can with the long nozzle. Spray all the nooks and crannies, all around windows and corners, around doors, heavily in closets, the kitchen and the bathroom. It lasts for about a month, maybe longer. Kill roaches very well. They aren't much of a problem in the winter, but come summer, they invade my apartment complex, especially after rain (we're right near a wooded area).

They're the nasty Houston Gulf Coast roaches, and I'm not afraid to admit that I'm terrified of them once they get to be longer than about 1 inch. My friend hates spiders, but he has a house on the west side of Houston and says that he lets some of the spiders keep webs around the house. Apparently they deal with mosquitos and roaches rather well.