Ten Common Texas Pests (With Pictures)

Scorpions

Scorpions are 8-legged arthropods that are close relatives to spiders, ticks, and mites.  They have 8 legs, 2 pincers (pedipalps) and a segmented tail with a bulb-like stinger.  They can sting two different ways, as a warning to humans who invade their space, and a more potent sting for stunning their prey.  Scorpions have very small eyes and poor vision, so they use vibrations and a keen sense of hearing to navigate and find food.  They prefer to feed on live insects like crickets, spiders, centipedes, as well as other insects. They are more prevalent in the Southern United States.

Centipedes

Centipedes are also not insects, but arthropods with a flattened worm-like body with 100 legs.  They have jaws containing venom glands on the first body segment behind the head.  They can range from one inch to over 12 inches depending on the species.  The Texas Red-Headed Centipede is the most scary of the bunch and is a very tough to kill species.  There are also smaller brown centipedes. The house centipede has a grayish-yellow body which is about 1.5 inches long and has 3 stripes running down its back.  It also has white bands around its 15 pairs of legs.

Carpenter Ants & Acrobat Ants

Both carpenter and acrobat ants are all over the Texas Hill Country and are similar in color and shape. Carpenter ants are wood-destroying species which drill or tunnel into wood to make a nest.  They do not actually consume the wood, but just excavate it to house their nest. They are some of the largest ant species in the United States, ranging from 1/4”-1/2” long.  Although they do not sting, they can inflict a painful bite with their wood-destroying mandibles. Evidence of carpenter ants will be ant pieces and dead bodies, sawdust, frass, and/or trailing ants. The main visible difference in carpenter ants and acrobat ants is the larger size of carpenter ants, as well as their larger bulbous tail.

Acrobat ants look like carpenter ants but are smaller (1/8”) and have a heart-shaped tail.  They do not actually destroy wood but take advantage of holes, gaps, cracks, or voids in homes to nest in.  You will sometimes find insulation pulled out of windows or soffit vents where the ants are nesting.  Acrobats tend aphids and feed on the honeydew and protect the aphids with a coarse-fiber carton over the scale insects.  They communicate and travel using pheromone trails, which lets other ants know where the food source is.  If you place a hummingbird feeder close to a tree, you can see the acrobat ants at work following the pheromone trail to the feeder.

Silverfish

Silverfish are small, wingless insects that range in color from silvery to brown due to their fine-scaled bodies. They have a soft body structure and can grow up to 3/4” long. Their shape is elongated and oval, featuring three long tail projections and two long antennae.

Once they reach adulthood, female silverfish continuously lay eggs, potentially exceeding 100 throughout their lifespan. Eggs are deposited either singly or in small clusters within cracks and crevices, hatching within 3 weeks.

Silverfish are general feeders that primarily consume carbohydrates and proteins, such as flour, dried meat, rolled oats, paper, and even glue. They can endure long periods without food—sometimes over a year—but require high humidity (75% to 90%) to thrive. Their preferred temperature range is between 70 and 80°F.

Paper Wasps

Paper wasps measure between 3/4” and 1” in length and have a slender, narrow-waisted appearance, with smoky black wings that fold lengthwise when not in use. Their coloration varies by species: Polistes exclamans is brown with yellow markings on the head, thorax, and abdomen bands, while Polistes carolina is primarily reddish-brown.

It’s important to distinguish paper wasps from yellowjackets and bald-faced hornets. Unlike the latter, paper wasp nests are open and lack a protective covering over the cells.

Nests are frequently found around homes, particularly under eaves, on structures, and in plants. Wasps will defend their nests if disturbed and can sting multiple times. While stings typically cause localized pain and swelling, they can lead to systemic reactions in sensitive individuals, including severe allergic reactions that may be life-threatening. Males do not sting. Despite their aggressive defense of nests, many gardeners view paper wasps as beneficial because they help control insect pests like caterpillars.

Fleas

Adult cat fleas measure about 1/8 inch long (1 to 3 mm), appearing brownish-black and flattened, and they lack wings. Their backward-pointing bristles assist in navigating through the fur or feathers of their hosts, making them hard to remove through grooming. Fleas have six legs, with the hind pair being long and specialized for jumping.

Flea larvae are smaller, measuring less than 1/4 inch long (6 mm), and are legless with a dirty white appearance. They are typically found in the bedding of infested pets.

Cat fleas are the most prevalent type found on dogs and cats. Fleas that feed on rodents can transmit diseases like plague and murine typhus, so it’s advisable to avoid close contact with wild rodents such as squirrels and rats. However, cat fleas themselves do not carry the plague.

American Cockroaches

The American cockroach is the largest species of roach commonly found in homes. They typically inhabit places like restaurants, grocery stores, bakeries, breweries, and pet shops, where food is prepared or stored. These roaches prefer damp environments and can often be found in sewers, basements, heating ducts, and on the lower floors of buildings. They can easily be transported into homes in boxes or items from infested locations. Cockroaches are known to contaminate food, damage wallpaper, books, and clothing, and emit a foul odor. Additionally, they can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals and contaminate food with bacteria that can lead to illnesses like food poisoning, dysentery, or diarrhea. Cockroaches have also been linked to childhood asthma.

Mosquitoes

Adult mosquitoes are approximately 1/4” long, characterized by long legs, clear wings, and a slender body covered in scales. Their heads feature compound eyes, thread-like antennae, and long, slender mouthparts for sucking. Male mosquitoes, which do not bite, can be identified by their very hairy, “feathery” antennae, which help them detect females. The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) was first recorded in Texas in 1985 and is now a common species. It is easily recognized by its black body with white markings and a single white stripe down the middle of its thorax. In contrast, the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) has two curved, lyre-shaped stripes on its thorax.

Female mosquitoes bite and can transmit diseases such as malaria, filariasis, and various arthropod-borne viruses, including yellow fever and dengue fever. The saliva injected during feeding causes itching. In Texas, there are about 55 mosquito species, with approximately 170 species found nationwide.

Termites

Subterranean termites are the most destructive wood pests in the U.S., causing billions in damage annually, particularly to homes. While they play a beneficial role in nature by recycling cellulose into nutrients, they pose significant risks when they invade human structures.

These social insects live in soil colonies with three castes: reproductives, workers, and soldiers. Winged primary reproductives, known as swarmers, are about 1/4” to 3/8” long and can be identified by their varying colors and wing patterns. Workers, the most numerous, are wingless and creamy white, responsible for foraging and colony maintenance. Soldiers have larger heads and jaws for defense.

Subterranean termites often enter homes through wood in contact with soil. Signs of infestation include swarmers, mud tubes, and damaged wood. Active infestations can be hard to detect, but signs like mud tubes or wings near windows indicate trouble.

Subterranean termites, including native and Formosan species, are widespread in Texas and require vigilance from homeowners. Regular inspections and preventative measures are essential to mitigate their destructive potential.

Spiders

Since there are thousands of species of spiders, we’ll focus on the dangerous ones!

Black Widow

Black widow spiders are typically shy and prefer hidden, undisturbed areas. Bites usually occur when someone accidentally disturbs them or their webs. Common habitats include outbuildings, garages, cellars, furniture, shrubbery, and areas with high insect activity.

• Generally jet black, though coloration can vary by species.
• The underside of the abdomen features two distinctive reddish triangles.
• Adults measure around 1½ inches long.
• They have eight eyes arranged in two rows.
• Eggs are laid in a loosely woven silk cup.

While less than 5% of bites are fatal, prompt medical attention is advised for severe symptoms.

Brown Recluse

Recluse spiders prefer secluded areas away from human activity, commonly found in closets, basements, attics, and outdoor locations like piles of rocks and leaves. They often hide in shoe boxes, clothing, and furniture. Most bites occur on the hands or feet when handling infested items, as these spiders are nocturnal and feed on insects like silverfish and crickets.

After mating, which can happen between February and October, female recluse spiders lay 40 to 50 eggs in off-white, round silk cases about 1/4 inch in diameter, typically in dark, sheltered spots. The optimal egg-laying period is from May to August. Over their lifespan of one to two years (sometimes up to five), females produce one to five egg sacs.

Be sure to give us a call if you need help controlling any of these Texas pests!  Also check out our other posts to gain more information about the pests listed here.