Key Points

• • The roaches are bigger, and some glide. A 2-inch roach near a drain is usually an outdoor American cockroach, not a sign of a dirty house.
  • Fire ants sting, and they’re everywhere. Check the yard before kids and pets play.
  • Termites can swarm in January. In South Texas, swarm season starts in winter, not spring.
  • Most Texas bugs are a nuisance; a few need attention. Knowing which is which saves you money and worry.

If you just moved here, the bugs in Texas that surprise newcomers most are roaches up to 2 inches long that can glide, fire ants in nearly every lawn, scorpions that wander indoors, and termites that swarm in the middle of winter. Some of these are normal Texas life. A few are worth a phone call.

Plenty of our customers are new to Texas, from Arizona transplants to military families at JBSA Randolph. One wrote that they were simply unprepared for “the size of the cockroaches.” Here’s what to expect, what’s normal, and what isn’t. For everything else, browse our Texas pest library.

Why Do Bugs in Texas Feel So Different?

It’s the heat and the long warm season. Many pests stay active most of the year, and Texas A&M AgriLife notes that long hot, dry stretches push pests indoors looking for water and cooler air. Ants, scorpions, roaches, and rodents all make that move.

What surprises you depends on where you lived before:

The Roaches Are Bigger (and Some Glide)

That giant reddish-brown roach is most likely an American cockroach. According to the Texas A&M field guide, they reach 1 1/2 to 2 inches, live mostly outdoors in woodpiles, palm trees, and sewers, and adults can glide. Many Texans call them palmetto bugs.

What’s normal: an occasional big roach near a drain, in the garage, or by the back door, especially on hot nights.

What’s not: small, light-brown roaches with two dark stripes behind the head in your kitchen. Those are German cockroaches, which breed indoors. For treatment options, see our cockroach control page.

Fire Ants Are Everywhere, and They Sting

Fire ants build mounds in lawns, along sidewalks, and around playgrounds, and they swarm out to sting when the mound is disturbed. According to Texas A&M’s fire ant program, stings burn and itch, and a white pustule usually forms within a day or two. Stings can get infected and may scar.

Some people become sensitive to fire ant stings. Get emergency care right away for chest pain, nausea, heavy sweating, trouble breathing, serious swelling, or slurred speech after a sting.

Newcomer tip: walk the yard before kids or pets go out, and never stand on a mound to take a photo. Our fire ant guide covers identification and control, and we also cover fire ants and pets.

This section is general information, not medical advice.

Yes, Scorpions Come Inside

The scorpion you’re most likely to see is the striped bark scorpion, the only species found throughout Texas. If you moved from Arizona, here’s some relief: Texas A&M says no Texas scorpions are considered lethal, though stings are painful.

They’re more common on the Hill Country edge, around Helotes and Boerne, and in summer, when heat sends them looking for water. Even one of our customers who moved here from Arizona found scorpions a problem in Texas. For removal steps, see our guide to eliminating scorpions in Texas. 

Termites Swarm in Winter Here

This one catches almost everyone. Subterranean termite swarming begins in South Texas in January and February, months earlier than many newcomers expect.

Swarmers look like small flying ants, but termites have straight antennae and a broad waist. If you see them swarming inside, take it seriously: Swarmers indoors usually mean an active infestation in the structure. See our post on flying ants vs. termites, or book a free termite inspection.

The Bugs You May Have Never Heard Of

Kissing bugs

Kissing bugs are dark, cone-headed insects with about 12 orange spots around the edge of the body, according to Texas A&M. They’re active at night and can carry the parasite that causes Chagas disease, which spreads through their feces, not the bite itself. They’re uncommon, but if you find one, Texas A&M’s Kissing Bug program will identify it from a photo. Read our kissing bug guide.

Fall crickets

In August and September, black field crickets can pile up around bright lights and doors. Texas A&M says outdoor lighting is the main cause. They’re harmless and don’t breed indoors. 

Mosquitoes

Expect a long mosquito season. Our San Antonio mosquito season guide covers when they peak and how to cut them back.

Your First-Year Texas Bug Calendar

Sources: Texas A&M AgriLife (termites, heat and drought, crickets).

What’s Normal, and When Should You Call?

Most bugs in Texas are a nuisance, not an emergency. It’s normal to see:

• • An occasional big roach near a drain or door
  • Crickets in the garage in late summer
  • A scorpion now and then in summer, especially near the Hill Country

It’s worth a call if you see:

• • Small striped roaches in the kitchen
  • Termite swarmers inside the house
  • Scorpions indoors every week
  • Fire ant mounds where kids and pets play

When a Beeline Pest Control technician comes out, they’ll tell you what’s typical for your neighborhood and what isn’t, which is the part our customers mention most in reviews. Our residential pest control service covers the common Texas pests. If you bought a newly built home, see our guide to pest control for new homes in San Antonio. Military families settling near JBSA Randolph can also check our guides to Universal City and Converse.

Welcome to Texas

Most of the bugs in Texas that startle newcomers are just part of living here. A few, like indoor termites, German roaches, and fire ants in the play area, deserve quick attention. Now you know which is which.

If you’d like someone to walk your new place and tell you what’s normal, Beeline can help. Request a free quote, call 210-739-1320, or text 210-972-1672. 

Frequently Asked Questions