Pest Library

What You Need To Know About Pests In Cypress, Texas

Cypress, Texas, with its plentiful outdoor spaces and warm weather, is a place people love to call home. Unfortunately, we aren't the only living creatures that thrive in Cypress. We share our spaces with many different insects, rodents, and spiders. Learn about our region's most common pests and how to keep them away from your property with the help of Professor Mosquito and our informative pest guide!

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are biting pests. They are a type of fly, and their most notable feature is their long, thin, extended mouthpart called a proboscis. Mosquitoes use their proboscis to suck up and feed on liquids. Plant nectar is the primary food source for female and male mosquitoes. Females also require blood meals to create viable eggs and complete their lifecycles.

In Texas, mosquito season begins in the early spring and lasts through late fall. Anytime the temperature is above 50 degrees, mosquitoes are active. Mosquitoes are annoying pests; they swarm around us and deliver painful, itchy bites. They can make spending time outside a nightmare for you and your family. But mosquito bites are more than annoying; they are also dangerous. As the females feed, they spread diseases, parasites, and other pathogens that make people and animals ill.

You can help prevent problems with mosquitoes by keeping your grass mowed, removing weeds and pruning overgrown shrubbery and trees, and removing standing water (mosquito breeding sites) from your property. It can also be helpful to plantplants that ward off mosquitoes – lemongrass, citronella, lavender, and basil. For the best mosquito control in Cypress, partner with Professor Mosquito. 

Ants

One of the most common pests to invade Texas homes is the ant. Most ants nest outside but will take advantage of our homes' food and shelter. Spilled food, pet food, crumbs, and food stored on counters or tables offer ants reliable food sources. The spaces behind our home's walls, under floors, and crawl spaces provide comfortable nesting sites.

Cypress is home to many types of ants, including carpenter, fire, ghost, and odorous house ants. Ants are difficult to control because of their large numbers. A single ant colony can have thousands to hundreds of thousands of members. The best way to determine the exact type of ant that has found its way to your property and eliminate the infestation is with the help of an experienced professional.

Use the following ant prevention tips to help keep ants out of your home.

• Keep tight-fitting lids on outdoor trash and recycling bins.
• Maintain a clean kitchen and store your family's food out of the reach of ants.
• Seal cracks in the foundation and install door sweeps on all exterior doors. 

Year-round pest control is the best prevention against ants; contact us at Professor Mosquito today for the best ant control in Cypress!

Cockroaches

Most species of cockroaches live outside, away from people, but a handful of species have adapted to living inside our homes. Below is a list of the most common types of cockroaches to call Cypress home.

• American cockroaches
• Brown-banded cockroaches
• German cockroaches
• Oriental cockroaches
• Smokey brown cockroaches

The cockroach is an ancient insect that has been able to withstand the test of time because they are adaptable, can eat almost anything, and live almost anywhere.

Food and moisture are the most likely elements to attract cockroaches to our homes. They move inside from the outside through spaces in the foundation, drains, vents, and gaps around windows and doors. In addition to moving inside from the outside, cockroaches regularly move from structure to structure by hitchhiking. Cockroaches crawl into boxes, appliances, and furniture and move wherever they are taken.

Cockroaches can become a problem inside any home. Luckily there are some easy steps you can take to prevent them. Use silicone, weather-stripping, and door sweeps to eliminate entry points. Reduce excess moisture in and around your home. Eliminate food sources by keeping lids on trash cans, storing food properly, vacuuming, washing dishes, and wiping down surfaces regularly.

Fleas & Ticks

Ticks and fleas are outdoor pests that stay active in Texas year-round because of our warm climate. However, they are most problematic in the spring and summer when temperatures are warmest. These pests are regularly introduced into our yards by wild animals. Once in your yard, it is only a matter of time before you, your kids, or your pets come into contact with them.

Both fleas and ticks feed solely on the blood of warm-blooded animals. Their preferred hosts are animals, but if people are available, they won't hesitate to bite through our skin and feed on our blood. Fleas and ticks may be tiny, but their dangers are significant: they spread disease and cause allergic reactions.

Helpful flea and tick prevention tips include:

• Keep the grass cut short.
• Remove leaves and other debris from your yard.
• Make your property unattractive to wild animals by keeping lids on trash cans, removing bird feeders, and harvesting gardens regularly.

Fleas and ticks are unwanted pests; controlling their populations and keeping them away from your property is best for your family's health.

Spiders

Many spiders live in Cypress and can find their way into your yard and potentially your home. Some of the most common include:

• Black widow spiders
• Brown recluse spiders
• Cellar spiders
• Common house spiders
• Orb weave spiders
• Wolf spiders

Spiders are predatory arachnids; these eight-legged critters are vital to the ecosystem. They prey on insects and help to control populations of nuisance and dangerous insects.

While spiders are beneficial, they can quickly become unwanted pests. Spiders can survive outdoors in any weather conditions, but most of their prey can't. When insects seek shelter within our homes or move inside looking for food, spiders follow.

To keep Texas spiders and the insects they are following out of your Cypress home, inspect its exterior and use silicone caulk to repair cracks and crevices. Replacing damaged screens, weather stripping, and door sweeps is also essential. Ensure vents, drains, and chimneys have appropriate covers to keep unwanted pests out of your home. 

Wasps & Hornets

Hornets and wasps are stinging insects with a similar physical appearance – a long, hairless body and a narrow waist. To tell them apart, it is important to remember that hornets generally have larger, more robust bodies.

Hornets and wasps are predators and help to control populations of other insects in addition to being pollinators. Though helpful out in nature, when these pests choose to nest or regularly forage for food in our yards, they are unwanted and dangerous pests. Stings from hornets and wasps are painful, and their venom is strong enough to trigger allergic reactions in some people. Hornets and wasps belong in nature but not in our yards.

Use the following prevention tips to make your property less attractive to hornets and wasps.

• Keep grass cut short and fill in bare spots.
• Cut back shrubs and trees from your home's exterior.
• Plant gardens away from the exterior of your home.
• Remove fallen trees, woodpiles, and other yard debris that offer sheltered nesting sites.

For professional pest control for hornets and wasps, contact us at Professor Mosquito!

Professor Mosquito Will Help You Keep Pests Away From Your Cypress, Texas, Property

The professionals at Professor Mosquito understand how frustrating dealing with pests can be. We offer high-quality mosquito and pest control services that you can count on to control unwanted pests. To learn about our home pest control solutions and commercial pest control options, please call today!