Sachse, TX · General
Pests in a house that was just built
New homes get pests too. A subdivision is built on ground that already had fire ants, crickets, scorpions and termites, construction disturbs all of them, and a fresh lot with new sod, mulch and sprinklers gives them good conditions right against the house.
Texas pest control businesses are licensed by the TDA. The call carries no obligation.
Why new subdivisions get pests
The ground was already occupied. Fire ant colonies, crickets and subterranean termites lived in the soil before the streets went in. Grading and digging scatters them, and the new houses are the nearest shelter.
Fresh landscaping helps them. Mulch beds against the brick, new sod and daily irrigation keep the soil at the foundation damp and soft, which suits ants, termites, roaches and the insects scorpions hunt.
This is the local pattern. In Sachse, Murphy, Wylie and Lavon, half or more of all homes were built after 2000, and building has continued — so this is one of the most common situations in the area.
What the visit involves
A technician walks the lot and the foundation line, checks garage door seals, weep holes and utility entries, and looks at how mulch and irrigation sit against the slab. A typical plan covers the perimeter and the yard rather than only the rooms where bugs were seen.
Tell the operator
- When the house was finished and when you moved in
- What you are seeing and where
- Whether the lot backs onto a field, greenbelt or construction
- Any termite treatment or warranty listed in your closing papers
Say what you found and where. Call to check whether a visit is available today.
(866) 204-1244Questions people ask
Doesn't the builder treat for termites?
Some new homes get a termite treatment during construction, and some builders include a warranty. Check your closing papers for what was done and how long any coverage lasts; it does not last forever.
Why so many crickets and scorpions?
Field crickets live in open ground and are drawn to lights at night. Where crickets gather, scorpions and spiders follow. Lots at the edge of a subdivision, near fields or greenbelts, see it most.
Will it settle down once the neighborhood is finished?
Some of it eases as lots are landscaped and construction moves on. Fire ants and termites do not leave on their own.
Other things people find
- Winged insects swarming inside the houseDark, small, many at once near a window — then wings everywhere
- Mud lines running up the slab or the garage wallPencil-width dirt tubes on the foundation, brick or sheetrock
- Fire ant mounds popping up after rainLoose dirt mounds across the lawn, ants that swarm up and sting
- A trail of small ants across the kitchenTiny ants along the counter, sink, window or dishwasher
- Found a scorpion in the housePale yellowish scorpion in the tub, on a wall or in shoes
- A brown spider in the garage, closet or storage boxesPlain brown spider, long legs, found in boxes or clothes
- Big roaches coming up from the drain or the garageLarge reddish-brown roach in the tub, sink or garage at night
- Small roaches in the kitchen cabinetsLight-brown roaches with two dark stripes, near the sink or appliances
- Scratching in the attic or walls at nightScurrying overhead after dark, usually once the weather cools
- Droppings in the pantry or kitchen drawersSmall dark pellets near food, under the sink or in drawers
- Waking up with bites in a line or clusterItchy bites after sleeping, dark specks on the mattress seams
- Mosquitoes make the backyard unusableBites on the patio at dusk, or even in the middle of the day
- Fleas in the house even after treating the petsBites around the ankles, tiny jumping insects in the carpet
ZIP codes covered
Mostly built since 2000
Older neighborhoods, 1970s–1990s