Insects in the Woodlands? (Austin, Howe: house, transfer, neighborhood)

[510native]

My husband has been offered a transfer from the SF Bay Area to the Woodlands, and we are debating whether to make the move. It wouldn't be until summer 2022. We've already done a lot of research, and yes, I know the heat and humidity a few months of the year is going to be a killer if we do move, especially coming from the (almost) perfect Bay Area climate. We are traveling there for a few days this August so that we can check out the Woodlands in-person during the worst of the hot weather. (I'm actually okay with heat and humidity if I have AC and a pool, both of which we would have if we buy any house in the area--no pool is a deal-breaker for me.)

However, one thing I have not been able to find much info on is bugs. I have a good friend who moved to Austin a couple of years ago and loves it, except that she says there are (ugh) flying roaches. I am a MAJOR insect hater...how bad is it, if at all, in the Woodlands, especially with roaches? I did travel to Florida frequently for work in the past, so it's not like I've never dealt with roaches and other giant creepy-crawlies, it's just that I'd prefer not to live with them all the time. Thank you in advance for any replies. (And yes, go ahead and mock my bug phobia--I know I'm a wimp!)

[jenfarm_]

Just hire a quarterly bug spraying service and it's fine. If you do see them, and it's rare in my experience, they should be dead at that point. I think this year is the first year in at least five years since living in our house that I've even seen any inside our house (something about this year, I don't know) but they've all been dead so our bug service seems to be working.


I'm also not a bug person. Spiders are my kryptonite. Moving here from the pacific northwest was different for me. There, people just dealt with the spiders and bugs. Here, people hire people to treat for them. It's totally fine. Lol.

[WRM20]

The bugs aren't bad. There's the occasional large wood roach carrying off a small child, and flocks of mosquitos making off with pets:-).

Seriously, it's SE Texas, and The Woodlands is full of trees. There are bugs, lots of them, but regular pest control generally keeps them under control. There are also snakes, and lots of them. Mostly harmless, but a few copperheads and coral snakes to make life interesting, along with the occasional water moccasin along creeks and lakes.

[510native]

Thank you both for the information--sounds tolerable, at least. Good to know about the snakes, too. We also have several dangerous snakes where I live currently (rattlers), but you usually have to go hiking to encounter one. I appreciate all of the info!

[S.Allen]

That area has bug like you have never seen.

Loads of mosquitoes and wait till you see the size of our roaches.

[Dopo]

It's not that bad,
but if I was you, I would avoid house where you can tell that there's constantly going to be sitting water close to it.

I saw one in The Woodlands the other day as I was riding bicycle
they basically have a swamp behind their house.

It's hard to see from the road, but you can see it if you go on the trails walking or riding bicycle

[Thoreau424]

With heat, lots of humidity, and lots of trees, it's the perfect combination for bugs.

If you don't want bugs, search out very dry areas (which will also lessen the chance of trees), and maybe colder conditions. You'll see the chance of bugs drastically drop.

[Ghost Town]

Well I hate applying mosquito spray on my skin, however if I don't do that I will be eaten alive in my backyard in 10 min. No exaggeration. Tons of mosquitoes, especially these days. Even with mosquito control truck visiting my neighborhood once in a while. Gnats are also pretty bad. There are many other sorts of bugs including giant flying wood roaches, but they don't bother me that much.

[Texas Minded]

Originally Posted by 510native

My husband has been offered a transfer from the SF Bay Area to the Woodlands, and we are debating whether to make the move. It wouldn't be until summer 2022.

I have to ask... does he work for HPE?

Yes, lots of bugs. I am from Colorado and not a fan of bugs but you get used to it.

[Texas Minded]

Originally Posted by jenfarm_

Just hire a quarterly bug spraying service and it's fine.

This