There is a wide variety of nuisance wildlife, insects, and rodents common to the Dallas area. However, some are more active during certain seasons than others.
Here, you’ll discover:
- How the various seasons affect different pest types
- How the weather plays a role in the reproductive cycles of insects
- Which pests are the worst during each season of the year
- What to look for when identifying certain pests
What Summer Pests Are the Worst in Dallas?
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are important disease vectors for illnesses such as:
- West Nile virus
- Zika
- Dengue fever
- Malaria
- Yellow fever
Most mosquito species in the Dallas region reproduce rapidly when warm summer rains wash over dormant eggs. Their life cycle typically spans only about 10 days. So, that means one mating pair can multiply up to 10,000 within a few weeks.
Ticks
Dog ticks are the most common species in Texas. However, other types carry diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These are the ones that pose the most significant health risk for humans.
Dog ticks are a challenge to control due to the availability of suitable hosts. Although they prefer animals, ticks are known to feed on human blood as well. So, their control becomes a priority during the peak summer season.
What Fall Pests Are the Worst in Dallas?
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are tiny, reddish-brown insects that feed on the blood of humans while they’re asleep. They create itchy welts on the skin from their bites. They also cause psychological trauma for those who have trouble controlling them in their home.
Bed bugs are devastating to Dallas hotels and apartment complexes. While not as bad as in cities like Chicago and New York, the number of reported cases is going up each year.
Stink Bugs
Stink bugs are true bugs that are a severe threat to several plants, including:
- Cotton
- Corn
- Soybeans
- Ornamental trees and shrubs
They also become pests in the fall when their numbers are the highest. Not only that, they become a severe nuisance by attempting to enter homes. That’s because they are trying to find a suitable place to stay warm during the winter.
The stink bug species in the Dallas area is about one inch long and light tan to dark brown. You can find them invading willow trees and grapevines as early as September. They also give off a nasty sulfur smell when you step on them.
Stink bugs are not known disease carriers. However, they do cause millions of dollars worth of damage each year locally.
What Winter Pests Are the Worst in Dallas?
Mice
Mice are more prevalent in the downtown area of Dallas than in the outer suburbs. However, the good news is, they have been under control for over 50 years. That’s due to the city’s strict health code requirements and major advancements within the pest control industry.
But that doesn’t mean mice are gone entirely from the Dallas area. You still have to keep a watchful eye out for them.
Roof Rats
Dallas residents have the opposite problem with roof rats. The downtown area doesn’t seem to have as large a problem as the outlying areas.
For example, Lavon Lake has become a focal point for roof rat complaints in recent years. It could be due to a more conducive environment for the rodent. Or the increase in population around these waterways has made roof rats more noticeable.
Either way, they are extremely challenging to control.
What Spring Pests Are the Worst in Dallas?
House Flies
Flies are a year-round pest in the Dallas area. However, you’ll notice them more in the spring and summer. Although they typically only live about two to four weeks, the housefly will hibernate during the winter months.
Snakes
Most snakes around the Dallas area are harmless. However, when you get out into the drier desert regions, you’ll come across the timber rattlesnake. It’s responsible for over 7,000 bites a year in the U.S. But fortunately, the death rate is low due to plenty of anti-venom on hand at hospitals and health clinics.
The most recent concern has been the rise in copperhead bites in the Dallas area.
The reason could be an increase in residential development encroaching on their habitat. The good news is, you can find plenty of wildlife control companies in the region to help manage this unwanted pest.