Living in Texas, we are all well aware of the vast numbers of insects and spiders living alongside us, in our homes, gardens, and lawns. Some can be toxic to the touch while other kinds can be quite helpful because they eat other harmful insects. Knowing what kind of pests can enter your house and lawn area can be useful in getting rid of harmful ones and how to react when you're caught in a bug situation.
Wolf Spiders
One of the more common spiders people encounter are wolf spiders. These spiders are often large and hairy - a fact that can alarm many people! Their brown and black color helps them to blend into the dark and in concealed areas. They can run very fast and will startle people when they are discovered. They commonly rest in areas such as under stones, landscape timbers, firewood, under decks, around compost piles and other dark areas.
A unique fact about wolf spiders is that they do not build a typical snare web, they actively hunt their prey. Wolf spiders normally inhabit pastures and fields and serve as a natural control against harmful insects. Hundreds to thousands of wolf spiders may be living in any average backyard. They often enter homes through gaps under doors, or other openings. They are not normally permanent residents in structures, but once inside they will generally stay. However, they pose no danger at all to people or pets.
Brown Recluse
Native to Texas and many other Southern and Midwestern states, the brown recluse is often found in garages, firewood piles, cluttered cellars and piles of stored boards. They often live around homes in bathrooms, bedrooms and closets, under furniture, behind baseboards and door facings, or in corners and crevices. The brown recluse hunt at night, which can be a problem for people, who can get bitten in their sleep by accidentally rolling over a spider in bed.
The effects of a recluse spider bite depend on how much venom was entered through the body and the victim's sensitivity. The bite may not be noticeable at first, but could cause a stinging sensation or great pain later on. Victims report symptoms of fever, chills, nausea, weakness, restlessness, and/or joint pain, which can occur within the first 24 to 36 hours. Healing may take six to eight weeks and can leave a scar.
Below are some tips that the Texas Cooperative Extension provides for controlling spiders:
Controlling spiders
- As a precautionary measure, become familiar with what poisonous spiders look like and how they act.
- Because spiders nest in quiet, undisturbed areas, discourage them by cleaning and vacuuming closets, storage areas, and other such areas frequently.
- Seal buildings with caulk, screening and weather stripping to keep spiders from entering.
- Tape or seal boxes to keep out spiders, especially in storage areas infested with brown recluse spiders.
- Mechanically remove webbing using a broom, dust mop or vacuum. Some dust mops are designed to work in corners near the ceiling.
- Wash off outside areas, particularly under roof eaves, with a spray from a water hose to remove some webbing and spiders. Webbing also can be removed with products such as Cobweb Eliminator®.
- Because some spiders, such as the brown recluse, can be difficult to control, hiring a pest management professional may be the best option. If your home is infested with recluse spiders, be sure the company you hire has experience with this pest.
Large Cockroaches
The American cockroach is considered to be the biggest and one of the most common cockroaches in Texas. The size of an average American roach is 1 1/2 to 2 inches long. These cockroaches are not only big, but they can also fly!
The American cockroach usually inhabit areas of high moisture and humidity. They commonly live outdoors under the bark of trees or in leaf litter and places like barns. These roaches also habit sewers, which allows them easy transportation throughout campuses and major metropolitan areas.
Preventing Roaches
An important idea to consider with cockroaches is that it is much easier to prevent cockroach problems that it is to control the infestations once they have occurred.
One initial thing that should be on a home owner's priority list is eliminating any source of food, water, and a place for them to live. This makes tackling the roach problem more effective. The Texas Cooperative Extension recommends good sanitation control, use of control tactics, and exclusion to prevent your home from a roach infestation.
Chemical Control - Baits
Baits are among the most effective insecticides for control of cockroaches in homes. The most common bait formulations sold to consumers come in ready-to-use plastic bait stations or tubes containing gel baits. Baits consist of food mixed with an insecticide and give best results in buildings with few alternative food sources. Always use the number of bait containers needed to effectively treat the area where cockroaches are to be controlled.
Chemical Control - Insecticides
Many effective insecticides are available for consumer use in controlling cockroaches. Pesticides vary in how they are formulated, how they are applied, how long they last, and how they kill. Most insecticides sold to consumers for cockroach control have low toxicity to humans when used as directed.
With springtime making its way to Texas, homeowners can expect to see an abundance of insects as well. Now that you are familiar with the most common types of pests and insects that can invade your home this month, take some precaution and control methods above to save prevent you and your family from having to deal with the headaches of an uncontrollable infestation.
Author Resource:-
Fran Phalin is a freelance editor and writer specializing in home improvement topics. She is based in Austin, TX.
For professional pest control assistance, please contact ABC! ABC Pest deals with all crawling insects. You can visit their website at www.abcpest.com
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