Other Pests in North Texas
Not every pest fits neatly into a category like ants, termites, or cockroaches — but that doesn’t mean they don’t cause problems. North Texas is home to a wide variety of occasional invaders that can create headaches for homeowners and businesses. Below, we’ll cover some of the most common “other pests” in our area, the risks they pose, and what to look out for.
Beetles
Beetles come in many forms, but one that gets a lot of attention is the Japanese Lady Beetle. These beetles look very similar to the beloved ladybug but come with a nasty side:
Identification: Typically orange or red with varying numbers of black spots.
Risks: Unlike native ladybugs, Japanese Lady Beetles bite, secrete a foul odor when crushed, and can stain walls and furniture with their yellow secretion. They often gather in large numbers on sunny walls or invade homes in the fall seeking warmth.
Other beetles (such as carpet beetles and grain beetles) can damage fabrics, stored food, and household items.
Crickets & Grasshoppers
While one cricket might just keep you awake at night, North Texas is known for occasional cricket population booms where thousands of them invade at once.
Crickets: During outbreaks, crickets can cover sidewalks and walls — especially around commercial properties with bright lights. Their droppings create foul odors, and piles of dead crickets can become a sanitation issue.
Grasshoppers: Large grasshopper populations can devastate lawns, gardens, and landscaping by chewing through vegetation quickly.
Centipedes
Centipedes are long, flattened pests with many legs and a fast, unsettling crawl.
Risks: Though they can bite, centipede bites are rare and usually no worse than a bee sting. Still, they alarm homeowners when found indoors.
Where Found: Damp areas like basements, bathrooms, and under rocks or logs. They are predators that feed on other insects, which means their presence may indicate another pest problem.
Millipedes
Millipedes are often confused with centipedes, but they’re slower, cylindrical, and have two pairs of legs per body segment.
Risks: Millipedes do not bite or sting, but when threatened, they release a foul-smelling liquid that can stain floors and walls.
Where Found: Often invade homes during periods of heavy rain when soil becomes saturated. They typically gather in large numbers around foundations and basements.
Other Occasional Invaders
Stink Bugs
Risks: Emit a pungent odor when crushed; invade homes in large numbers in fall and winter.
Where Found: Around windows, attics, and wall voids.
Weevils & Pantry Pests
Risks: Infest rice, flour, cereals, and dried goods; contaminate stored food.
Where Found: Pantries, food storage, and grocery stock.
Camel Crickets (a.k.a. “Spider Crickets”)
Risks: Harmless but jump toward movement, which can be alarming.
Where Found: Basements, crawlspaces, and garages.
Pill Bugs & Sowbugs (a.k.a. “Roly-Polies”)
Risks: More of a nuisance than a danger; enter homes during wet weather.
Where Found: Moist soil, gardens, and occasionally indoors near foundations.
Mayflies
Risks: Do not bite or sting, but their sheer numbers can overwhelm outdoor spaces. Large swarms leave behind dead insects that create odors and slippery walkways.
Where Found: Gather near lakes, rivers, and outdoor lights during warm months. They are drawn to bright lighting on homes and businesses at night.
Final Word
Most of these “other pests” aren’t as destructive as termites or as dangerous as venomous spiders — but they can still cause real frustration when they invade homes and businesses in large numbers. From Japanese Lady Beetles staining walls, to crickets covering commercial properties, to centipedes startling homeowners in bathrooms, these occasional invaders are worth keeping an eye on.
Pure Grit Pest Control is here to help if these pests ever get out of hand, but more importantly, we want you to understand what’s crawling around North Texas and why.