Native Austin Bugs

Check out some of the Native Austin Bugs You Should Know About…

Ant Control Strategies

The most effective way to control ant infestations is to use both chemical and non-chemical techniques. Apply simple measures that can reduce the attraction ants have to your home or business. Learn more about Bella Bugs native Austin bugs.

A large centipede is shown in this picture.

Army Worm

Although there are four major species in Texas, the Fall Army Worm is considered the most prevalent. It is the caterpillar life stage of a moth and is regarded as a pest that can wreak havoc on crops if left to multiply. Its name is derived from its feeding habits.

A close up of a bug on the ground

Bed Bugs

Sometimes referred to as “red coats,” “chinches,” or “mahogany flats” (USDA 1976), bed bugs are blood-feeding parasites of humans, chickens, bats, and occasionally domesticated animals (Usinger 1966).

A brown ant with black spots on it's body.

Carpenter Ants

The Texas carpenter ant complex is comprised of several species. These bi-colored, arboreal ants are among the largest ants found in Texas, making them appear as they forage or fly indoors and out.

A drawing of a bug with yellow eyes.

Chinch Bugs

The southern chinch bug is an insect pest of St. Augustine grass, a turf and pasture grass grown throughout Texas and the southern United States. This tiny pest, rarely measuring over 6mm in length, causes millions of dollars in damage per year.

A picture of an ant that is standing up.

Crazy Ants

The crazy ant is extremely easy to identify on sight by observing its rapid and erratic movements. Confirmation may be made with the aid of a hand lens through which the extremely long antennal scape, long legs, and erect setae are very apparent.

A close up of a fly on a white background

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites, like all termites, are eusocial insects. They live in colonies and cooperatively care for the young. Responsibilities for reproduction, foraging, and colony defense are divided up among castes: reproductives (king, queen, and alates), workers, and soldiers.

A drawing of a flea on the side of a wall.

Fleas

External parasites are generally found on or in the skin and are important pests because they bite or annoy both humans and their pets.

A drawing of a cockroach on a white background.

German Cockroach

The German cockroach is the cockroach of concern, the species that gives all other cockroaches a bad name. It occurs in structures throughout Texas and is the species that typically plagues multifamily dwellings.

A close up of a bug on a white background

Mole Cricket

Though usually considered turfgrass pests, mole crickets have a broad diet. The southern mole cricket feeds mainly on other insects, and the tawny and short-winged mole crickets feed on plants.

A mosquito that is sitting on the ground.

Mosquitos

Mosquitos and mosquita (from the Spanish meaning little fly) are common insects in the family Culicidae (from the Latin culex meaning midge or gnat).

A brown bug with white antennae on top of it.

Palmetto Bug

The American cockroach, also known as the Palmetto Bug or Water Bug in the southern United States, is the largest species of common cockroach and is often considered a pest. It is native to the southern United States and common in a tropical climate like Texas.

A close up of the back end of a centipede

Sod Webworm

Several species of sod webworms or “lawn moths” commonly infest home lawns. These include the silver-striped sod webworm, the bluegrass sod webworm, and the larger sod webworm.

A bug with long legs and wings is shown.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites are the most destructive and frequently encountered kind of termite found throughout Texas. Although they nest in soil, subterranean termites can attack structures by building tubes that connect their nest to wood structures.