Bugs In Houston

Cockroaches

• Houston has a variety of cockroaches. Cockroaches typically live in decaying trees, woodpiles and in sewer systems. These insects hide in cracks of walls in the daytime and become active at night. The flattened bodies of cockroaches allow these creatures to get into houses through loose-fitting windows and doors. Additionally, cockroaches eat almost anything, such as wallpaper paste, bookbinding, grease, leather and a variety of foods. A common cockroach is the American cockroach. It ranges from 1 to 1 1/2 inches in length. This insect has a brownish-red color and a speck of yellow or brown situated behind the head. Another cockroach seen in Houston is the Cuban cockroach.

Ants

• Texas, including Houston, has an abundance of fire ants. These reddish-brown ants live in colonies resembling large mounds in lawns, flowerbeds and beneath mulch. This type of ant is quick to defend its territory by running up vertical facades. However, you can prevent fire ants from climbing vertical facades by dusting them with talcum powder, according to the TexasAgriLife Extension. The worker ants span between 1/16 to 3/16 inches long and the queen ants span 3/8 inches in length. These ants can destroy crops including okra, corn and potatoes. The female fire ant worker will first bite you, holding on to your skin with her jaws. Then, it uses its stingers to inject venom in the skin that generates a fire-burning sting.

  Another ant found in Houston is the carpenter ant. These ants typically live around houses in firewood and fences, rotten tree stumps, dead wood or indoors inside including beams, wood shingles and siding. Additionally, you can find ant colonies in cracks between buildings. This type of ant has a red body with a black abdomen, and it spans between 1/4 to 1/2 inches in length.

Bees

• Houston is home to a variety of bees. The honeybee has stripes along the abdomen and appears in numerous different colors such as black, yellowish-brown and brown. These bees make beeswax, honey and royal jelly and pollinate flowers and vegetables. Honeybees typically are not aggressive bugs, but will attack an intruder when the intruder bothers the colony filled with pupae and larvae. The bee can only sting once. The honeybee worker bee leaves its stinger inside the skin with a poison sac intact.

  Bumblebees have a yellow and black fuzzy hair pattern on the abdomens. The queen and worker bumblebee carry pollen baskets on the back legs. These bees span about 3/4 inches in length. They create colonies in old bird nests, bundles of dried grass, abandoned buildings and old mattresses. Most bumblebees are not aggressive unless intruders go near the nests.

Other Bugs

• Houston is home to many other insects. One particular insect that stands out is the walking stick. This bug looks similar to a stick, with thin antennae, skinny legs and no wings. Colors may range from brown to green. In addition, it grows up to 4 inches in length. However, you may find a walking stick as long as 7 inches. These adult bugs eat leaves and nymphs eat on shrubs.

  Houston has colorful dragonflies. One of the most vibrant and colorful dragonflies is the skimmer. The skimmer ranges in length from 1 inch to over 3 inches, and their wings can span approximately 4 inches. The adult dragonfly eats other bugs such as midges, mosquitoes and winged ants. Skimmers get their name because they usually fly low above water. In addition, these bugs typically use the same pathway and perch in familiar areas.