Navigating Dallas's Pest Landscape: A Seasonal Guide
Each state has its own climate, perks, quirks - and bugs. If you have lived in a state long enough, you know when it's time to bust out the bug repellant, start looking for stink bugs around the house and when to suit up to battle mosquitoes when you go outside. For residents in Dallas, Texas, here are the bugs and insects that will come out to play in your yard and try to make their way into your home each season throughout the year.
Bugs You Will Find Year Round
- Mice and other rodents
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Termites
- Bed bugs
- Stinging insects
- Squash bugs
- Stink bugs
Mice and Other Rodents
When it gets cold outside, mice and other rodents start to look for a toasty shelter inside, but when it's nice outside, they still want to look for food sources, no matter where that is. Norway and Roof rats are a few of the common types of rodents found in Dallas. You may find traces of these pests in storage boxes or your holiday decorations in your garage or attic.
Ants
The weather in Dallas means you could have a picnic or cookout almost all year, so the winter doesn't scare ants away. From carpenter ants to fire ants, each season brings a different type of ant out in Dallas.
Spiders
The Black Widow and Brown Recluse are still active in the wintertime in Dallas, so these are all-year pests. These like to build their nests and lay eggs in dark, undisturbed places like your attic or basement. These are a little more dangerous to people than carpenter ants, so you might need expert help taking care of these.
Cockroaches
Cockroaches do not care what time of year it is or where they are, they will try to take over. Their droppings contain bacteria harmful to humans, so if you find evidence of adult cockroaches or their eggs, you want to have them expertly evicted immediately.
Termites
Dallas is home to one of the most dangerous termite species, the subterranean termite, which lives in underground colonies, building tunnels to get to any wood they sense above ground.
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs aren't a problem specific to Dallas, but they have been on the rise in recent years. Infestations of these can become a huge problem anywhere and need to be taken care of immediately. These can make an appearance any time of year, though they do not like the heat.
Squash bugs, stink bugs and various flying insects are other pests the residents of Dallas can come in contact with all year. Though the intensity of them lowers in January and February, they don't completely go away.
Pests in the Summer
- Crickets
- Spiders
- Wasps
- Cicadas
- Mosquitoes
- Fleas
- Termites
- Chinch bugs
- Wasps
- Gnats
- Beetles
The higher temps in the summer bring out all kinds of flying insects and bugs who want to fight everyone for the sunny spots outside. When it gets too hot in Dallas, it can make the bugs want to take refuge from the summer sun in your house, as well.
Pests in the Fall
- Mice and other rodents
- Ants
- Box-elder bugs
- Stink bugs
- Mosquitoes
- Crickets
- Cockroaches
- Spiders (Black Widow and Brown Recluse)
- Crane flies
The fall brings a bit cooler weather, but the bug can still be active if the temps are above freezing and can thrive once the temperature gets to the 50s. In Dallas, that means most of the year, so you want to be on the lookout for insects, since the average temperature by month still allows for the majority of pests to breed and lay eggs. On those chilly fall days, the bugs will want to move inside as much as you want to, so being aware of what you might find in your home is still useful.
While most of the fall-time bugs aren't harmful to humans or pets (minus the spiders) they are annoying, can contaminate your food, damage your property and make you feel like your house is unclean, which can affect your mental health.
Pests in the Winter
- Mice and other rodents
- Ants
- Spiders
- Cockroaches
The colder months might freeze out a lot of the outside types of bugs, but that leaves things open for other kinds. Not every fling insect or pest goes away to sleep the winter away. January can still bring temps in the 50s, which means any type of insect or bug can wake up to check out your yard or home.
Pests in the Spring
- Ants
- Cockroaches
- Japanese beetles
- Squash bugs
- Spider mites
- Fleas
- Mosquitoes
- Wasps
The spring is when a lot of pests, bugs and flying insects become more active as the temps start to rise and be consistently warmer. You will start to find more insects in your yard or garden and notice more as soon as you step outside than you did in the winter.
The longer days with more sunlight give insects more time to be active, breed and reproduce. This increased activity means you will have more bugs to deal with any time you go outside. If you have a yard or garden, you will need to take more precautions against insects feeding on your greenery, and if you like to spend time outside, insect repelling measures will need to be started.
How to Keep All Bugs and Insects Away
No matter what time of year it is, you can take measures to keep the pests away from your home and yard.
- Keep your yard neat, trim and cut low
- Dump any standing water anywhere in or around your yard
- Spray your patio, porch and yard with essential oil scents that pesks hate, like peppermint, rosemary, lemongrass and lavender
- Install an automated insect misting system around your property's perimeter
- Use temporary fogging treatments during peak seasons for long-lasting protection
- When all else fails, call a caring and experienced pest control company, like MosquitoNix®
Every season brings its unique scents, sights and sounds. Each one also brings a specific type of bug or flying insect that will try to move in. A few minutes a day protecting your yard and home will keep these unwanted guests from becoming permanent. Dallas has over 230 beautifully sunny days, which is a lot for pests to be active, so know which ones to look out for all year long and never hesitate to call in the compassionate experts if they overstay their welcome.
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