What’s Creeping, Crawling, and Stinging in North Texas Right Now

Summer doesn’t exactly sneak in around here. In North Texas, it arrives loud, hot, and full of bugs. By the time June hits, the pest population is wide awake and wildly active. They’re flying, burrowing, nesting, mating, and—for some reason—always crawling out of the mulch when you least expect it.

If it feels like there are more bugs than usual this year, it’s because there are. Warm winter? Check. Plenty of spring rain? Also check. That combination creates the ideal conditions for pests to breed earlier and in bigger numbers. Now that summer’s here, you’re not just seeing them—you’re living with them.

So what exactly is lurking in your yard right now? And how do you deal with it before it becomes a full-on infestation?

Let’s take a tour through the current lineup of North Texas’s most active summer pests—starting with the ones that hurt.

Wasps and Hornets: The Aggression Has Arrived

By June, wasp colonies are no longer just “getting started.” They’re in full expansion mode. Red paper wasps and black paper wasps are staking out spots under eaves, in patio umbrellas, and around attic vents. Their nests are growing, their workers are swarming, and their tempers are short.

Then there are the yellowjackets—more compact, more aggressive, and way more likely to move inside. These are the stingers that build nests inside wall voids, crawlspaces, and attics. You won’t always see the nest, but you’ll definitely see them flying in and out of a crack in the siding or hovering near your roofline.

If you think you hear buzzing in the walls, don’t ignore it. That’s not a summer soundtrack, it’s a warning.

Mosquitoes: Every Drop of Water Is a Breeding Ground

Mosquito season kicks into high gear in June. Eggs laid in April and May are now hatching at scale, and unless your yard is completely dry and breezy (spoiler: it’s not), you’re going to see more of them by the day.

What’s fueling the swarm? Any standing water—birdbaths, clogged gutters, plant trays, abandoned toys, even bottle caps—can produce hundreds of mosquitoes in less than a week. And once they hatch, they don’t go far. They stay close to where they were born and breed again.

If you’re lighting citronella candles and hoping for the best, you’re already behind.

Pill Bugs and Earwigs: The Creepers in the Mulch

These guys aren’t here to sting you—but they are here in full force. Pill bugs (also known as roly-polies) and earwigs thrive in moisture-heavy environments. After a storm or heavy watering, you’ll find them crawling out from under flower pots, mulch beds, and wood piles like they own the place.

Pill bugs are mostly harmless, but earwigs are a little more unsettling, especially if they make their way indoors. Both pests are drawn to the shaded, damp areas that pop up after a typical Texas rain.

And once they’ve settled in near your foundation, it’s just a matter of time before they explore your baseboards and bathrooms.

Fire Ants, Carpenter Ants, House Ants, and Acrobat Ants: The Yard—and House—Are Theirs Now

There’s no such thing as “just ants” in June. This time of year, multiple species are active at once, and they each bring their own brand of chaos to your yard, driveway, or kitchen.

Fire ants are the ones you feel before you see. Their mounds can pop up overnight after a rain, and stepping on one by accident turns into a full-blown ambush. They’re aggressive, fast, and their bites leave painful welts that last for days. Left untreated, they’ll spread across the yard and start exploring indoor spaces—especially through cracks near doors or garages.

Carpenter ants don’t bite as much, but they’re sneaky. They quietly tunnel through wood to make nests—usually in damp areas like fences, decks, or even wall voids. The damage adds up slowly and silently. If you see large black ants marching in a line near your home, especially at night, that’s your cue to take a closer look.

But not all ant problems are outside. This month, we’re also seeing a surge in two smaller—but still persistent—indoor invaders: house ants and acrobat ants.

House ants, also called sugar ants, are tiny and relentless. If you leave out a crumb, they’ll find it. If you clean it up, they’ll check back tomorrow just in case. These ants nest inside walls, under floors, or in insulation and can create multiple colonies inside a single structure. The worst part? Spraying them often just makes them split into new colonies. It’s a problem that gets bigger the harder you try to handle it on your own.

Acrobat ants are a little more unusual, but no less annoying. They’re small, heart-shaped ants that raise their rear ends in the air when disturbed—hence the name. You’ll find them trailing around baseboards, electrical outlets, or window frames. Often mistaken for carpenter ants, acrobat ants also like to nest in moist wood, but they’re just as likely to invade your attic or HVAC system if there’s an entry point.

So whether it’s painful stings in the yard or a mysterious trail of tiny bodies across your countertop, ants are absolutely on the move this month—and they’re not going anywhere without a fight.

Spiders, Roaches, and House Centipedes: The Indoors Invasion

Let’s not forget the pests that don’t mind sharing your AC.

When outdoor conditions get too hot, too wet, or just too competitive, spiders, roaches, and centipedes start migrating indoors. You’ll see them in bathrooms, basements, garages, and laundry rooms—anywhere cool and dark with a water source nearby.

One or two here and there is normal. A sudden spike? That’s a sign they’ve found what they’re looking for, and you’ve got company.

What You Can Do (Before It’s Too Late)

June is the turning point. Wait too long, and these small problems will turn into weekly sightings, nightly buzzing, and constant pest anxiety.

You can’t DIY your way out of a yellowjacket nest in your wall or a mosquito breeding site you didn’t even know existed. But you can stop it before it gets worse.

That’s where we come in.

Bug Zone Handles It All

Wasps, yellowjackets, mosquitoes, ants, earwigs, roaches—whatever’s moving through your yard right now, we’ve seen it, removed it, and kept it from coming back. Our seasonal pest treatments are customized for what’s actually active in your area. That means faster relief and longer protection.

Call Bug Zone at (972) 867-9800 or email office@bugzonepest.com to book your June service. We’ll do the pest patrol—so you can enjoy your summer in peace.