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Old 07-30-2008, 02:29 AM
 
Location: Austin TX
959 posts, read 4,494,314 times
Reputation: 467

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Ok slight exaggeration but boy are there a lot of creepy things around here. I'm renting a house in N Austin for the Summer and have become a nervous wreck every time I open the door b/c the little critters seem to sit on the doorstep waiting to be let in. Does it have to do with the drought?

The geckos and flies and spiders and mosquitoes and other miscellaneous bugs that have come flying/scurrying in don't bother me too much, but when a cockroach ran in right by my foot my blood curdling scream was probably heard by the neighbors. I've found cockroaches inside at the rate of about two a week but am assuming (hoping) they are all from outside. My guys leave the door open a LOT as they go in and out and from what I've seen the creepies are all lined up just waiting patiently at the doorstep. Today I found the biggest cockroach I've ever seen wandering around downstairs Big enough to look like he might have a personality like the one in the Wall-E movie The sad thing is that it didn't freak me out as much as the really small one I saw when we first moved in hehe. Guess I'm getting used to them.

My other unpleasant encounters have included mobs of chiggers that attacked both my feet and ankles through my socks (STILL have the little red marks weeks later, hope that's normal), two red ant bites (now I know exactly what that stabbing, flaming hot pain feels like, actually they are still throbbing over 24 hours later) after disturbing an ant hill in flip flops, and a swarm of wasps that chased me for a bit when I whipped open the shed door that was hiding their HUGE nest. It's been a while since I've run that fast. It was insane how many wasps were on that nest. Looked like at least 30

I'm a Texas native and was really looking forward to again hearing rattle snakes (in the distance) and smelling skunks (in the distance) and hearing cicadas (in the distance) and seeing all the cute bunnies and jackrabbits and deer just like I used to when I was a little girl. I had not bargained for all the creepy crawlies though Thinking back though, I did have an incident of red ants swarming my legs one time when I was about 7yo, one time we found a rattlesnake in our yard that my dad had to take out, and there was that cicada that flew into my mouth whose leg I accidentally bit off (they taste nasty), and the cockroach my mom found in my mouth when i was a baby...but I had conveniently repressed THOSE stories and memories It's all coming back to me now o.0

Last edited by Indigoblue; 07-30-2008 at 02:38 AM..
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Old 07-30-2008, 08:59 AM
 
8,007 posts, read 10,434,906 times
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Welcome to Austin!

Most of the critters don't bother me too much. However, I have ZERO tolarence for roaches. I think what you are seeing sounds a little excessive. I would call an exterminator. They can spray outside for them as well as inside.
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Old 07-30-2008, 09:39 AM
 
Location: Austin 'burbs
3,225 posts, read 14,066,251 times
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I don't have any of these problems at all! In fact, it just doesn't seem that buggy to me... maybe because I have pest control? It's just a way of life here, I think...

Try Bulwark Exterminating.
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Old 07-30-2008, 09:56 AM
 
Location: Austin TX
959 posts, read 4,494,314 times
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We're only here for a couple more weeks. I'm relieved to hear that is not the normal amount of creepy activity! Will definitely be getting pest control then - thank you We didn't need it up in NC.
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Old 07-30-2008, 10:15 AM
 
Location: Round Rock TX.
14 posts, read 35,690 times
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Over all I have ben in Austan 30 days in the last two years. I do not see things like that at my Sisters house. You may need a pro, or I would try a few cans of bug spry. That should help for the next few weeks.

Paul G.
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Old 07-30-2008, 12:18 PM
 
Location: Austin TX
959 posts, read 4,494,314 times
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Yeah thank you, we'll just have to go old school with the bug spray and/or broom and/or capture and release method until we move out, but then I'll definitely be getting pest control

ESPECIALLY after reading the pages long thread on all the venomous and poisonous and ill tempered things people have found in their homes and yards
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Old 07-30-2008, 12:20 PM
 
Location: Up in a cedar tree.
1,618 posts, read 6,618,273 times
Reputation: 563
Humm, spray around your doors. Also if this occurs at night, turn the light off as you walk outside.
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Old 07-30-2008, 06:41 PM
 
7,742 posts, read 15,134,243 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike78613 View Post
Humm, spray around your doors. Also if this occurs at night, turn the light off as you walk outside.

AGreed, spray around your doors and door frame and on your outside lights.

I also turn out the inside and outside lights at least 10 minutes before I need to let the dog out at night. The bugs are definitely attracted to lights, plus if one comes in at least I wont see it.
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Old 07-31-2008, 09:24 AM
 
4,710 posts, read 7,105,370 times
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Just got back from staying at my sister's house in Apache Shores. Interestingly, she has virtually no critter problems. I haven't seen a roach there in 15 years of visiting. She uses no pesticides, doesn't have a "service" to come and spray, but her house is elevated off the ground about 2 feet, with unfettered air flow under the house. Maybe that has something to do with it - no accumulated moisture under the house.
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Old 07-31-2008, 12:52 PM
 
Location: SoCal
2,261 posts, read 7,234,406 times
Reputation: 960
We recently rented a house in South Austin. Wen we were looking at it, my husband found mouse droppings in the kitchen.

I talked to the realtor and said I wanted a rodent extermination thing done before we moved in.

He said (and I quote) "Those weren't mouse droppings, they were large roach droppings."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least mice are CUTE!
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