Which part of Austin will have the "least" amount of tree roaches and scorpions? (Houston: apartments, to rent)

[Danielle23]

Hi...I am a native Texan and have lived in Buda and Houston. My family moved to northern California about 12 years ago, and are relocating to Austin this summer. (I am so excited, can hardly wait........I have missed Texas dearly!)

The only thing I have not missed about Texas is the bugs! My younger son is freaking out about all the bug stories, and I have to admit, I'm freaking out a lot, too.... In Houston, the main problem was tree roaches, but we never saw a scorpion, ever. Growing up in Buda years ago (small town south of Austin), only one house we lived in had a few tree roaches, but not nearly as many as in Houston. We did live out in the Buda countryside for a few years, and then we had scorpions galore, but it was also a "rock" house - meaning it had rocks on the exterior (similar to a brick house).

Our plan is to be in a house in Austin by the end of August. We may have to rent first before we buy,(if we run out of time), hopefully renting a house, as I've also read about the bug issues being worse in apartments.

Which part of Austin and/or type of house (not pier and beam....? new vs. old...not having trees nearby, etc?) will help us steer clear of tree roaches and scorpions? We *do* plan on having an exterminator come out before we even move in. I would prefer the least toxic chemicals (i.e. organic), but that does not matter as much as keeping our new home as bug free as possible.... (hey, getting some anxiety-free sleep helps keep you healthy, too. Any advice on pest companies (that are effective) would be greatly appreciated as well. Thanks so much!

[Idlewile]

I've yet to see a scorpion that wasn't teeny tiny (and I've only seen one of those) or tree roach (?) but I know they are around.

So, do tarantulas make your short list too? Last night one the size of my fist was tiptoeing across my driveway. We live in NW Austin.

[Danielle23]

OMG!! Yes, I would add tarantulas to my list......I just figured everywhere had spiders, but tarantulas would not be fun.... OK, so I guess, NW Austin is not good, bug-wise.....LOL?

[Idlewile]

Honestly, from what I've learned from this board and being here for a while, the bugs and critters are everywhere in Austin (and a good portion of Texas) with newer developments being more prone to scorpions and rattlesnakes as opposed to your run of the mill rat snake. That may be oversimplifying it but it's Texas and it comes with the territory -- there are nasty bugs here.

I will say I see a lot fewer roaches here than I did in Atlanta so it could be worse.

[BevoLJ]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

I will say I see a lot fewer roaches here than I did in Atlanta so it could be worse.

It is funny you said that. I never thought about it until now, but I have experienced much the same. Lots and lots of bugs in Austin, but almost no roaches compared to other parts of the US and World I have lived in. Especially the NE US.

[sxrckr]

In my experience, more tree roaches central (and basically, where there are more trees) and more scorpions on the far outskirts. Tarantulas, can be in many areas.
I think the fire ants are more annoying and worse than any of these others.

[scm53]

It is safe to say that the twenty seventh floor of the Austonian is free of tree roaches and scorpions.

That said, we have had a small, but consistent number of scorpions since moving in the first of last year - all outside, except one found dead in the sticky traps our exterminator scatters around the house. A couple a month, at the most. No problem, except that I got stung on the big toe walking barefoot in our outdoor kitchen.

Roaches - never had a one, and our house is surrounded by trees. My stepson, however, lives in an apartment on W. Enfield and he is infested with them. My only thought is that we live cleaner, and have a better exterminator.

We embrace tarantulas, and you should too. They are no danger to humans, but naturally prey on insects. They are shy, and reclusive. The ones you see out, mostly in the summer, are males looking for a mate. Leave them alone and they won't both you a bit.

[Danielle23]

Originally Posted by scm53

Roaches - never had a one, and our house is surrounded by trees. My stepson, however, lives in an apartment on W. Enfield and he is infested with them. My only thought is that we live cleaner,

I always thought that the "clean aspect" applied only to the small cockroaches, not to the tree roaches. Even if you keep an immaculate house in the Houston area, you will still get the big tree roaches, unless you exterminate like heck, and even then, you'll still see them outside.

and have a better exterminator.

can you tell me which exterminator you use...?

We embrace tarantulas, and you should too. They are no danger to humans, but naturally prey on insects. They are shy, and reclusive. The ones you see out, mostly in the summer, are males looking for a mate. Leave them alone and they won't both you a bit.

I am (fingers crossed....) hoping you only see these outside. I can embrace many things that do not enter my living quarters... FYI - in our house here in Cali - we capture and release spiders. But all bets are off (in my book) for roaches and scorpions.

Thanks everyone, for your replies so far. I do realize that Texas has a lot of bugs; I am just hoping to pick the best part of town to try and avoid as many critters as I can, and big roaches and scorpions are really the ones I can't stand. Having lived myself in Texas for 33 years, I know that some areas are worse than others. I have never lived in Austin, though and was hoping those who do can point me in the right direction.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by BevoLJ

It is funny you said that. I never thought about it until now, but I have experienced much the same. Lots and lots of bugs in Austin, but almost no roaches compared to other parts of the US and World I have lived in. Especially the NE US.

I am from Philadelphia and never saw or even heard of those nasty tree roaches until I moved to Texas. Because they don't have them in the NE. They are found in hotter, humid climates (i.e. the South).

Any roaches you saw in the NE were German roaches, which are associated with unclean environments. Those German roaches are found everywhere. They are also easy to avoid. The tree roaches don't care how clean an environment is as they live outside.

[CarnivalGal]

And don't forget the fire ants. I was bitten several times on my foot yesterday. Wasn't even a mound, just apparently a bunch of them in the grass.