By Mashum Mollah
Austin is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. But, just like any place you choose to live, it has its common household pests. Let’s talk about common pests that live in Austin, TX, their impact, and how to deal with them.
1. Spiders
Spider are arachnids, not insects, that generally feed on other pests. You could say spiders are one of nature’s own forms of pest control. Black widow and brown recluse spiders, common to Austin, both have necrotic bites that can be grotesque to look at and can cause a lot of pain. Usually, they do not attack unless threatened, but humans or pets can unwittingly alarm them since they like to hide in darker areas.
Home-invading spiders normally build more and more webs in a place that was already untidy and less inhabited, such as a garage corner. Since they stay hidden, people sometimes unexpectedly find a large population of them. Pest control Austin experts can help explain what’s causing excess spiders to gain entry into your house, and how to keep them away, possibly with no costly or chemical means.
2. Scorpions
Scorpions are also arachnids, like spiders. They typically attack their prey with their barbed tail, using the venom in the stinger to paralyze it, but they may also use it in self-defense when startled. The striped bark scorpion and the Texas cave scorpion are the most common species you may have to deal with in your Austin basement or shed. Their venom affects the nervous system and can be serious.
3. Ants
Ants are known for their bites and stings, their interest in human food, and their determination. Even if they do not cause much destruction, they are still an unsanitary presence that attracts more insects and is one of the most difficult pests to control.
This is especially true of the red imported fire ant, whose bites are notoriously painful and itchy. They spread through yards and grow new mounds quickly. You may think that it’s easy to avoid fire ants in your yard, but one mistaken step from a better-concealed mound could lead to dozens of stings. For the wrong recipient, the venom from these ant stings — and yes, they are stings, not bites — is more than a nuisance and could even lead to anaphylaxis.
4. Rodents
Other common pests in Austin homes are rodents, such as the deer mouse, Norway mouse, house mouse, and roof rat. Rodents are often drawn to homes that have other smaller pests they can eat, such as roaches, or simply homes that are easy for them to enter. They are an unsanitary presence and can potentially spread a variety of diseases and ticks. If you do see rodents, rodent droppings, or other signs of an infestation in or near your home, get an expert’s opinion from a trusted Austin pest control business.
Pests can cause much more damage to our health and property than we might expect. So, it’s important to control pests predominantly. The pests commonly found in Austin are no doubt dangerous, but there are ways to both prevent and resolve their arrival with the help of a professional.
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