Common pests in Houston, TX
Here are the most common pests in the Houston area.
Spiders
Spiders are very common household pests that can be found across Houston. The most abundant are house spiders. Although they are relatively harmless, house spiders can be a nuisance or even frighten those that are scared by their presence. Most house spiders can be found in corners of rooms where there is the least amount of foot traffic. On the other hand, uncommon encounters with black widow spiders and brown recluse spiders can happen. These are more dangerous species and should be avoided.
Ticks
Species of ticks can vary per region, but in the Houston area, the black-legged tick is the most common. Unfortunately, black-legged ticks cancan be vectors for Lyme disease in both the adult and nymph life stages year-round. Ticks can appear in your yard, latching on to tall pieces of grass or within piles of brush. Various types of wildlife in the area can bring ticks into your yard as they fall off the animal host. Ticks can make their way on to your property when you take your dog for a walk through taller grasses and foliage.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs can be found in most states across the USA, and Texas is no exception. Houston homeowners are susceptible to bed bug activity when infested items are brought into the home from other locations. This could be secondhand furniture from antique and thrift stores, luggage or backpacks after traveling, and humans who unknowingly carry them from places like trains, movie theaters and planes. Bed bugs are tiny pests that are rust-colored and about the size of an apple seed as adults. You can identify potential bed bug activity by finding red welts on your skin after sleeping and by the evidence they leave behind. Check for what looks like small dots from a permanent marker, located on your bed sheets or bed frame. Bed bugs stain light-colored items with their feces as they move and feed at night.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes, the small flying biters, have been plaguing homeowners in Houston for decades. These small pests can deter you from spending time in your yard because of their tendency to bite anyone and everyone. Not only are mosquitoes annoying to deal with, but they can also transmit disease-causing pathogens that can be harmful to humans. If you have standing water around your property, mosquitoes could be breeding and causing issues.
Ants
Fire ants and carpenter ants are the most common species of ants in the Houston area. Our geography in particular is very conducive to frequent household ant infestations. Fire ants are small, rust-colored ants that live mostly outdoors, but sometimes indoors, moving where moisture is most abundant. That's why you're most likely to find them in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and utility rooms after it rains. When the weather is dryer, you are less likely to experience a fire ant infestation. Carpenter ants are also a concern for homeowners in Houston. These wood-destroying insects can easily be identified because of their large size. If you are finding small piles of wood shavings outside of your door frames, window frames, or deck, you may have a carpenter ant infestation.
Termites
Termites can be a big threat to the structural integrity of your home. This is especially true for homeowners in Houston. More specifically, Formosan and subterranean termites are active locally. Termites are small insects that can eat through wood and cause significant damage when left unaddressed. Formosan termites are particularly dangerous because of how fast the colonies can expand.
