Learn More About Your Pests

We've made it easy for you to find valuable information to some of Texas's most common pests. Let us help you learn more about the pests you encounter with our extensive library of information. And remember, once you've gathered the knowledge, call Metro Exterminating at 281-428-1511 to schedule an appointment and we'll do the rest!

Roaches

Considered one of the most important and most difficult insect to control in the pest control industry with over 4000 species world wide and about 70 species in the United States, cockroaches have changed very little over the past 400 million years. They infest homes and commercial establishments capable of carrying many types of food poisoning diseases as well as causing allergic reactions in many people especially children.

German Roaches

This common house dweller is generally considered the filthiest type of house-inhabiting roach. They feed on all sorts of decaying matter. Sanitation and general cleanliness is essential, especially in food preparation areas; however, cleanliness may need to be reinforced with professional treatment as they can live for a full month without any food. The German Roach is typically nocturnal in nature and will only be found during the day if there is an overcrowded population. Among the common types of roaches, German Roaches have the shortest immature stage, as short as 26 days, an egg count of up to 48, and the most developed resistance of commercial and consumer insecticides. Theoretically, a single female could account for up to 91,000 offspring within a three month period. Eliminating food sources and baiting near problem areas are the best solution for this pest.
Smokey Brown Roaches

The Smokey Brown Roach is a close relative of the American Cockroach. Even though they are closely related, this cockroach is smaller than it's cousin, reaching approximately 1 inch in length, and mahogany in color. The wings cover the abdomen of both male and female completely, which makes them both excellent in flight. Indoors, they seek warm, humid areas without air circulation, such as garages, attics, and crawlspaces. Smokey Brown Cockroaches have also been found established in northern states, typically in greenhouses. These cockroaches are strong fliers and attracted to lights. During their lifetime, the female Smokey Brown Cockroach produces approximately ten egg capsules, each of which contains about 20 eggs. Using secretions from her mouth, the female firmly attaches the egg cases to some surface or object and covers them with surrounding materials. Nymphs emerge in 50 days and molt 10 to 12 times. Depending on the temperature, development from egg to adult requires from 160 to 716 days. Adult females live an average of 218 days and males about 215 days.
Oriental Roaches

These roaches are most common during the summer months (May - August) but can be found year-round under proper conditions. Sudden or prolonged cold can cause large scale migration of outside roaches to buildings and homes. Sanitation and general cleanliness is essential, especially in food preparation areas; however, cleanliness may need to be reinforced with professional treatment as they can live for a full month without any food.
American Roaches

The American Cockroach is the largest of the house infesting roaches. They are found most often near food preparation areas, but any damp and warm place in a basement of first floor could be suitable. It is recommdned that any foods and liquids, including beer, be cleaned up immediately if spilled and subsequently stored in a roach-proof container if possible. These roaches can contaminate foods, cause considerable damage to wallpaper, books, and clothing, and cause a foul odor within the home. Some people are even allergic to these cockroaches. It has been shown that they may even spark some forms of childhood or adult (rare) asthma.

Ants

Ants are the most successful groups of insects with about 700 species in the United States and Canada. They are social by nature living in colonies below and at times above ground. They will enter buildings for shelter, food and moisture feeding on virtually any type of food. For the past 10 years ants have become the most active and at times the most difficult structural pest to control.

Tawny Crazy Ant

The Tawny crazy ant has only been known in the state of Texas since 2002. High numbers of this ant species have been found in several locations in southeast Houston (Harris County), including Houston, Friendswood, Pearland, Pasadena, Deer Park, Seabrook, La Porte and Baytown. They are continuing to spread further inland to other counties including Chambers and Liberty County.

Tawny crazy ants do not have stingers. In place of a stinger, worker ants possess an acidopore on the end of the abdomen, which can excrete chemicals for defense or attack. They are capable of biting, and when bitten, they cause a relatively sharp pain that quickly fades. Wildlife such as nesting songbirds is irritated by the Tawny crazy ants. Masses of crazy ants covering the ground and trees likely affect ground and tree-nesting birds and other small animals and cause wildlife to move out of the area. The ants are even displacing red imported fire ants in areas of heavy infestation. However, after experiencing the Raspberry crazy ant, most residents prefer the fire ant.
Fireants

Just about everyone in the Gulf Coast region of our state, including our neighbors further north, have at one time or another come in contact with the Red Imported Fire Ant which is not always a good thing. Fire ants are aggressive and with their powerful sting they have been known to kill pets, calves, and even people. Fire ant mounds are large and extremely hard. There are documented cases of farm implements being ruined by trying to plow under a mound. Use common sense and caution when dealing with fire ants of any sort.
Pharaoh Ants

This relatively small ant (1/16") is a major nuisance in both commercial and residential environments. Pharaoh ants have been known to infest hospitals, where they cause damage ranging from contamination of medical supplies to direct infection of patients through bites. Colonies of these ants are small, typically under 400 members, but they are not territorial and hundreds of colonies may be located within a single wall, each occupying an area the size of a thimble. It is estimated that 90% of the ants will not leave the colony, so controlling these pests through conventional means is difficult. Modern usage of baits and professional treatments are necessary to eliminate these problem infestations.
Carpenter Ants

The Carpenter Ant is one of the more destructive pests found in homes. Colonies that remain undetected and untreated can grow to as large as 8,000 workers and can cause severe structural damage. Contrary to popular belief, Carpenter Ants do not actually eat wood. They remove it, leaving smooth holes and halls through the wood. Small inexplicable piles of shavings similar to pencil shavings below windows or below openings in baseboards are one possible sign of an infestation. Locating and eliminating the actual colony is the only way to effectively treat this problem.
Crazy Ants

Crazy ants occur in large numbers in homes or outdoors. They often forage long distances away from their nests, so nests are often difficult to control. The name "crazy ant" arises from its characteristic erratic and rapid movement not following trails as often as other ants. The Crazy Ant is so morphologically distinctive that it is one of the few Paratrechina that is not consistently misidentified in collections.
Little Black Ants

This ant gets its name from its very small size and jet black coloration. Very little has been published on this ant. The colonies are moderate to large and contain many queens. Winged reproductive's appear from June to August. These ants' nests are located in woodwork, decaying wood, and masonry. They feed on grease, oil, meats, fruits, vegetable materials such as corn meal and sweets. Outside, they nest under stones/rocks, in rotting logs, lawns, or in open areas. The workers feed on other insects, honeydew, and plant secretions. They forage in trails which can commonly be seen on foundation walls and along sidewalks outside.

Spiders

With over 35,000 known species around the world and about 3,000 in North America spiders are commonplace in many homes and businesses. Wherever their preferred food is available, you can be assured spiders are likely to be found. In the United States only 2 groups of spiders are dangerous to man, the widow and recluse spiders.

Brown Recluse

The Brown Recluse spider is not particularly aggressive. Most people who get bitten have contacted the spider in clothing or shoes that have not been used for a period of time. They typically can be found on the floor or behind furniture in areas which are left undisturbed. Fatalities are rare, but bites are most dangerous to children, elderly, and those in poor physical condition.
Black Widow

This well known and misunderstood pest is famous for its mating rituals where the female kills and consumes the male after copulating. The male Black Widow spider is smaller and totally harmless to man. The female is easily identified by the red hourglass shape on the abdomen. Black Widow poison is 15 times more lehal than rattlesnake venom; however, less poison is actually injected in a bite, so far fewer people die from spider bites. Black Widows prefer dark, humid places like wood piles, basements, and crawlspaces. Modern pest control methods are very effective in controlling and preventing spider infestations.
More Information on Spider Bites

Although our customers (and their doctors) may tell themselves a Brown Recluse, Black Widow, or other unknown spider, has bitten them, this is not always the case. Sometimes, explaining the lack of harmful spider populations to our customers is often met with skepticism because they often believe that the doctor knows more about local spiders than the licensed pest control operator.

In the experience of most pest control operators, the general public and the medical community are quick to determine that all kinds of dermatological eruptions are the result of spider bites when there is no proof whatsoever that a spider was involved in the incident.

Many medical conditions, especially bacterial infections, are under the so-called diagnosis of a "spider bite" yet having nothing to do with spiders. Several of these more serious cases are misdiagnosed as Brown Recluse spider bites. What is seen, under further inspection, is a multitude of conditions that can cause necrotic (or rotting flesh) wounds that can be mistaken for a Brown Recluse spider bite. Brown Recluse's aren't the only things that cause necrotic wounds. Other conditions should also be given creence when determining the causes of skin lesions.

Bacteria infections. This is probably one of the biggest causes of skin inflammations on the body. Any time there is a puncture of the skin, there is a chance of bacterial infection. One of the most common things to do after any type of bite or sting is to eventually scratch the area of irritation. If the skin is broken, a secondary bacterial infection may occur. The would may have been initiated by a bite or sting but the infection that follows is not from the venom or salivary glands of the insect but from our own "grubby" fingernails that can cause the infections. This is one of the biggest problems with real Brown Recluse spider bites, which are notoriously free of bacteria for the first few days but then get infected when the itching causes the patient to scratch. The ensuing would is then blamed completely on the spider's venom, which is incorrect.

Viral and fungal infections. Various forms of herpes have been misidentified as Brown Recluse spider bites, which are simply caused by viruses. There are fungal infections associated with plant material on rose thorns, pine seedlings, hay, sphagnum moss, etc., that via a break in the skin can leave a skin lesion. If someone tells you that they received a Brown Recluse bite while gardening (Brown Recluse spiders are not found in vegetation), sporotrichosis is a likely candidate.

Ticks and Lyme disease. A misdiagnosis with sever consequences is that Lyme disease sometimes can exhibit a bull's eye rash or a necrotic lesion, which are characteristic symptoms of a Brown Recluse bite. Bites of other ticks can leave wounds that can be mistaken for spider or recluse bites including a soft tick.

Other arthropods. Fleas, mites, ticks, bedbugs, and kissing bugs can also leave puncture wounds of the skin which are susceptible to infection or reaction to salivary fluids. Even our own common fire ant bites can cause a bacterial infection by scratching the infected area. One of the problems with blaming spiders is that the homeowner starts to overlook the actual cause of the wounds, which may continue unabated.

There are several possible problems we may encounter such as topical contaminants, Lymphoma and other cancer-like diseases, blood disorders, and underlying physiological diseases that can cause rotting flesh wounds. Some of these conditions have no known cause or can be something as simple as a bed sore.

It is important to remember that the pest management professional is not a doctor and only a doctor can make medical diagnosis.

With the aforementioned information at hand, we hope you can use this to help in determining if in fact a spider was to blame for the wound or something else altogether.

Rodents

Rats and mice are considered to be one the greatest of pest importance to people because of the damage to property, contamination of stored food, and the ability of spreading disease and allergens. The most common rodents to the Texas Gulf coast are the House mouse, Norway Rat and Roof Rat.

Rats and Mice — House Mouse in Baytown, TX

House Mouse

The house mouse (or field mouse, if living in rural areas) is one of the most common pests on the south plains. One of the common characteristics of the mouse is its strong curiosity. Pest control professionals can use this natural curiosity against itself to help remove this pest. Mice are omnivores and will eat most anything, making baiting an attractive pest control solution. Much attention has been given to mice recently with the recognition of the hanta virus in Texas and New Mexico. This disease may be carried by large numbers of mice and can be passed on to humans when come in contact with their droppings.
Roof Rats

Roof rats eat almost anything, but they prefer fruit, vegetables, and cereal products. They get their water often from their food. They eat a lot at one time and will return to that place time after time again. If they do not like a food or bait, they quickly become sy of it. Outdoors, the roof rats nest in high places such as trees, but sometimes in burrows under plants. Indoors, they nest in high structural places, but sometimes in basements, sewers, or underneath buildings.
Norway Rats

An excellent climber, the Norway Rat is unafraid of living in close proximity to humans if there is a food source nearby. Norway Rats have been known to enter homes through holes and cracks as small as 1/4 inch in width. The main danger to humans comes not from the rat itself, but the mites and/or fleas that it may carry. This rat, like most rodents, can harbor rabies and even the bubonic plague. Careful and complete inspections of building exteriors, combined with aggressive trapping of any spotted "unwated guests" can eliminate a rat problem.

Termites

Although beneficial to nature, Termites are known to cause over $5 Billion dollars of damage to homes and business in the United States each year. The most common termites to the Texas Gulf Coast are the Subterranean Termite, Formosan Termite and the Drywood Termite. It's extremely important to identify which termite is infesting the structure before any control measures are taken.

Eastern Termites (Subterranean)

Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the United States. They cause more than $2 billion in damages each year, more property damage than that caused by fire and wind storms combined. Dead trees and brush are the original food source of subterranean termites. When land is cleared of this material and houses are built on these sites, termites attack the structures. Termites can enter buildings through wood in direct contact with the soil by building shelter tubes over or through foundations, or by entering directly through cracks or joints, in and under foundations.
Formosen Termites (Subterranean)

Formosan termites cause the same type of damage as the other subterranean termites. They cause more rapid damage than native subterranean termites. They have been known to attack more than 47 plant species, including citrus, wild cherry, cherry laurel, sweet gum, cedar, willow, wax myrtle, Chinese elm, and white oak. Formosan termites feed on both the spring growth and the summer growth wood. They have also been known to eat through non-cellulose material such as: thin sheets of soft metal (lead or copper), asphalt, plaster, creosote, rubber, and plastic, searching for food and moisture.
Drywood Termites (Non-Subterranean)

Drywood termites are social insects that form colonies in sound, dry wood. The colony is composed by three castes of termites: reproductives, soldiers, and workers (pseudergates). The termite passes through three growth stages: egg, worker, and adult. They vary in color from dark brown to light yellowish, initially winged but lose their wings a few minutes after swarming. Damage to wood, though seldom apparent, definitely indicates a past or present infestation of drywood termites. These termites consume both the harder summerwood and the soft springwood of timbers. This leaves a sculptured appearance to their galleries. Fecal pellets will be present in the galleries.

Bees & Wasps

Although considered an important group of insects for pollination of flowering plants and helping to reduce the number of pest species, these insects cause over 50 deaths each year. It is very important to identify the group of bees, wasps or hornets your dealing with. Understanding whether they are solitary or social and particular nesting habits will be essential for safely and control.

Honey Bees

Honey bees are very important in pollination of crops. Honey bees are social insects that live in colonies. There is a queen that is responsible for producing eggs. The worker caste is made up of sterile females who build and repair the nest, forage for food, and tend to the young. Males are colled drones and are produced for mating with reproductive females. Honey bees are small and fuzzy. They are usually yellow and black striped.
Carpenter Bees

Carpenter bees resemble bumble bees but do not have yellow markings. The females of most species are black or blue with a metallic sheen and may be up to 2.5cm (1 in) long. In general, the males look like the females. In some species, the males are covered by light brown, light green or yellowish-green hairs. When female carpenter bees construct tunnels in solid wood, their chewing of the wood can be heard from several feet away. Piles of sawdust beside the nest entrance and the presence of many bees in flight in the area provide clues that a nest is near.
Paper Wasp

Paper wasps receive their name from the paper-like nest they build. These nests can be found under the eaves of houses, under branches of trees and shrubs, under decks or inside pipes. Paper wasps do not have a caste system with a sterile worker class. There is one dominant female, which lays eggs, and the others tend to the young. The dominant female is usually the nest initiator. This species of wasps is variable in color. They can be brown, black, orange or yellow. In addition, their bodies may or may not have stripes.
Yellow Jackets

Yellow jackets can nest in wall voids, attics, in trees and shrubs, or in the ground. They are social insects. They have a worker caste that cares for the young and forages for food. Adult yellow jackets will feed on fruit and nectar from plants while the larvae are fed insects or carrion.

Fleas & Ticks

Blood-feeding insects are of great concern to our customers for many reasons. Not only are the bites annoying and often painful but they can transmit disease. From Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, etc. from ticks to bubonic plague, typhus, tapeworms, etc. from fleas these insects are of the utmost importance in control for the health and welfare of people and domestic animals.

Cat Fleas

Fleas are not only a nuisance to humans and their pets, but can cause medical problems including flea allergy dermatits (FAD), tapeworms, secondary skin irritations and, in extreme cases, anemia. Although bites are rarely felt, it is the resulting irritation caused by the flea salivary secretions that varies among individuals. Fleas may transmit bubonic plague from rodent to rodent and from rodent to humans.
Brown Dog Ticks

Brown Dog Ticks are encountered outdoors by pets. Ticks stealthily attach and feed upon the host until they complete their gorging or are discovered and removed. Since a female can lay up to 4,000 eggs in a year, it is important to eliminate any infestation before it gets out of control. The Brown Dog Tick does not bite humans and is not a danger for Lyme Disease; however, it is the source for several diseases that attack dogs and cats. Removing bedding frequently and keeping lawns mowed short will help prevent large infestations, but given the fact that one Brown Dog Tick lived for eleven years without ever feeding, it is evident that regular prevention is necessary for true pet protection.

Other Pests

There are many other types of insects that invade structures from time to time. Although some may be just a nuisance while others may possibly do damage, most of these occasional invaders enter because of outside conditions that have become inhospitable, too hot or cold, too wet or dry, etc. Other occasional invaders are attracted to lights at night which in turn will attract other insects for feeding.

Scorpions

Scorpions are usually brown in color and range from about 2.5cm to 20cm (about 1 to 8 in) in length. The scorpion is nocturnal and feeds mainly on spiders and insects. The young are born live and remain with the mother for a short period. When capturing a victim with its claws, the scorpion inflicts a disabling sting with its tail. In most species, the string is painful, but not fatal to humans, although the string of one species found in the United States has proved fatal to young children and is potentially fatal to adults. Other areas of the world have more dangerous scorpion species; the poison involved is a neurotoxin, attacking the nervous system. Theoretically, a single female could account for up to 91,000 offspring within a three month period. Eliminating food sources and baiting near problem areas are the best solution.
Earwigs

Despite a European superstition that believed the earwigs could burrow into the brain through one's ear, they are harmless to humans. They will feed on leftovers, especially greasy foods, and will chew small irregular holes in house plants. They are found in and around homes because they are attracted to the moisture and decaying organic matter. Controlling moisture levels around the foundation and exposed faucets is essential for extended prevention.
Silverfish

These pests often are found by homeowners in sinks or tubs when they are unable to climb out. Growing to a length of 1/2" to 3/4" long, they are fragile insects with two long antennae, almost as long as their bodies and the distinctive three appendages (that look like antennae) at the rear. They are typically a pearly-grey to light charcoal color (hence their name) and occasionally referred to as 'bristletails'. Cleanliness is not really a factor in silverfish infestation because they can live in insulation, books, between walls, old paper products, and some fabrics. After controlling problem infestations, reducing damp areas within the home will help prevent their return.
Sow Bugs

Sow bugs are land crustaceans which look very similar to pill bugs, at least at first glance. Sow bugs are small crustaceans with oval bodies when viewed from above. Their back consists of a number of overlapping, articulating plates. They have 7 pairs of legs and antennae which reach about half their body length. Most are slate gray in color and may reach about 15mm long and 8mm wide.
Pill Bugs

Unlike the sow bug, the pill bug has a rounder back, from side to side, and a deeper body, from back to legs. When disturbed, it frequently rolls into a tight ball with its legs tucked inside, much like its larger but dissimilar counterpart, the armadillo.

The presence of sow bugs or pill bugs in the living quarters of a home is an indication of high moisture conditions. This condition will also contribute to a number of other problems including mildew, wood rot, and a good breeding environment for other insects.