Common Spiders in South Texas and How to Prevent Them

South Texas is home to a variety of spiders, some of which are more common than others. Here is a list of the most common spiders in South Texas:

Garden Spider

Garden spiders are large, web-building spiders that are found in many parts of the world, including South Texas. Garden spiders are not venomous, but their webs can be quite large and unsightly. Garden spiders are also known as orb weavers, because their webs are circular in shape.

Wolf Spider: Wolf spiders are large, hairy spiders that are found in many parts of the world, including South Texas. Wolf spiders are not venomous, but they can bite if they feel threatened. Wolf spider bites are typically not serious, but they can cause some pain and swelling.

Jumping Spider: Jumping spiders are small, agile spiders that are found in many parts of the world, including South Texas. Jumping spiders are not venomous, but they can be quite aggressive. Jumping spiders are known for their ability to jump long distances, and they often use this ability to catch prey.

Brown Recluse Spider: The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider that is found in many parts of the United States, including South Texas. Brown recluse spiders are typically dark brown in color and have a violin-shaped marking on their back. Brown recluse spider bites can be serious, and should be treated by a doctor immediately.

Black Widow Spider: The black widow spider is another venomous spider that is found in South Texas. Black widow spiders are typically black in color and have a red hourglass shape on their abdomen. Black widow spider bites can be painful, but are rarely fatal.

The Asian giant hornet has generated a lot of fear in the U.S. in recent weeks since it was spotted in North America. It is the largest wasp in the world, up to 2 inches long, with a sting that has been described as hurting like a hot nail punched through the skin. There are also concerns about its effect on honey bees, since they attack honey bee nests and rapidly kill entire colonies.

The good news is that the Asian giant hornet has only been spotted in Washington state, and there have been less than 10 confirmed sightings. These hornets are only aggressive when their nests are disturbed, and their nests are usually found in wooded areas.

There are several species of Texas native hornets that are often mistook for the Asian giant hornet, such as the cicada killer wasp, which can grow as large as 1.5 inches. Cicada killers are solitary and rarely sting.

So there’s no need to fear Asian giant hornet in South Texas, now or likely ever. If you have problems with other hornets or pests, schedule a home inspection with one of our licensed professionals at Hitman Pest Control today!

Possums (or opossums) are a common sight in the evenings in south Texas. Although they prefer to live in wooded areas near streams or swamps, they will often den in attics and garages, or under mobile homes.

Problems can arise from their messy nests, and their tendency to tear insulation, wiring and ductwork. Their lifestyle makes them likely carriers of disease, fleas and ticks.

Possum problems can be avoided by removing sources of food and shelter from your property. Trash should be stored in sealed containers, and any pet food dishes should be brought in at night. Also, check for other sources of food or shelter, like fallen fruit from trees or piles of logs or brush.

To prevent home infestation, regularly inspect your home and other buildings for holes, cracks, broken access covers, etc. Tree branches hanging near the home should also be trimmed.

If you suspect a possum infestation in your home, schedule a home inspection with one of our licensed professionals at Hitman Pest Control today!

Unseasonably warm and wet conditions across the country have prompted experts to offer warnings for the season ahead for many areas, including San Antonio.

The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) today released its bi-annual Vector Sectors™ list of the top 10 U.S. cities with the greatest risk for increased pest pressure. San Antonio was among those ten cities, and the report says in part:

San Antonio: After an unseasonably warm fall and start to winter, above-average precipitation for the remainder of the season could lead to a spike in peridomestic cockroach activity.

https://www.pestworld.org/news-hub/press-releases/erratic-weather-contributes-to-spike-in-unlikely-pest-populations/

Cockroach infestations can spread bacteria and lead to food contamination and respiratory issues. If you suspect a problem, contact us to properly identify and treat any infestations.

This is a greater arid-land predaceous katydid, neobarrettia spinosa (female).

This is a tough bug; it eats Praying Mantises for breakfast! If you were to harass it with your finger, rather than hopping away, it will charge and CHOMP you, drawing blood!

It has an extra set of arms under it’s chin that it uses to feed it’s mouth with scraps and titbits while it’s dining.

Katydids should die off soon, but look out for the emerging cicadas!

Katydids are more of a nuisance than a true pest for the general homeowner. Yes they can eat their fair share of leaves and other greens in our gardens, but for the most part, it is minimal and accepted. However on occasion for some growers or individuals who have had enough, control measures can be obtained. Fruit gardeners or other edible crops can control nymphs through the use of insecticides containing spinosad. This product used in accordance with label directions has been proven to be safe for humans, other mammals, and birds. For heavier infestations there are chemical alternatives available.

Katydids are relatively easy to control with the application of chemical pesticides, however the chemicals do not differentiate between beneficial insects and harmful ones. In the process of trying to control them with chemicals , you can create a unbalance in the natural order and have a increase in other pests. Yes you can kill them by the thousands, but millions more are still coming and the annoying noise and debris that they generate will still be there. So sit back on a warm summer evening and enjoy nature’s serenade and realize that not all in our world can be controlled by us.

If you are still determined to try and control them with pesticide application, Hitman Pest Control offers it’s landscape and tree spraying services at competitive rates.

Scorpions are arachnids, close relatives of ticks, mites and spiders. Scorpions prefer dryland habitats but they do occur throughout Texas. They can be a nuisance when they interact with humans because they will sting when disturbed.