Pest Expert Overview: Armadillos in Bryan & College Station
Armadillos, with their distinctive armored appearance, have become a notable part of the wildlife in Texas. These unique creatures, often seen scurrying along highways or foraging in yards, are more than just quirky mammals; they play specific roles in their ecosystems.
The most common species of armadillo in Texas is the Nine-banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). These animals are easily recognizable by their leathery armor, which consists of overlapping plates covering the back, head, legs, and tail. Armadillos are typically about the size of a small dog, weighing between 8 to 17 pounds and measuring up to 2.5 feet in length, including the tail.
An interesting fact about armadillos is their ability to float on water by swallowing air, inflating their stomachs to double their size. This adaptation allows them to swim effectively, which is useful in their often-aquatic habitats. Additionally, the Nine-banded Armadillo is known for its peculiar reproductive system; females give birth to four genetically identical young from a single fertilized egg, a process known as polyembryony.
Life Cycle
The life cycle of the Nine-banded Armadillo begins with a long gestation period, lasting around four months, followed by the birth of quadruplets. These young are born blind and helpless, with soft, leathery skin that hardens over a few weeks. The mother armadillo nurses her young for two to three months, after which they start foraging for food with her, becoming fully independent at around six to twelve months.
Armadillos have a lifespan of 7-20 years in the wild. They reach sexual maturity at about one year of age, ensuring a consistent population growth, especially in favorable environments like those found in many parts of Texas.
Why are they Pests?
Armadillos can become pests, particularly in urban and suburban areas of Texas. Their foraging behavior, which involves digging for insects and grubs, can cause significant damage to lawns, gardens, and landscaping. Furthermore, their burrowing can undermine foundations, driveways, and other structures, leading to costly repairs.
Additionally, armadillos are known carriers of the bacterium that causes leprosy, posing a potential, though minimal, health risk to humans. They may also host other parasites and diseases that can affect domestic animals.
Armadillo Prevention and Control
There is some information out there saying that rooting armadillos can be deterred by treating for grubs in the soil. Grubs are immature june beetles. While armadillos do root for grubs, they also root for all kinds of other insects and worms as well as many types of plant roots and tubers. This means that treating for grubs won’t deter them from rooting. Also, those grubs present during the spring and early summer would be from last year’s egg lay from June bugs. They would be in the last stages of development and fairly deep in the soil, making them resistant to any insecticide application.
Trapping is really the only solution to stop armadillos from rooting up flower beds. Trapping armadillos is quite difficult since they don’t respond to any type of bait. Cage traps with doors on both ends work the best. They must be placed in areas in front of burrows or under fences where there is evidence armadillos are traveling. Boards may also be used to funnel armadillos into trapsl. Armadillos typically have many burrows that they travel between so even well-placed traps can take weeks to actually catch an armadillo.
Professional Armadillo Control
If you are dealing with an invasion of Armadillos, Venus Pest Company can help. Founded by Aggie Entomologist Dr. Scott Lingren, we provide expert, eco-friendly Integrated Pest Management solutions in Bryan and College Station. To get started, fill out the contact form, call/text 979.774.0486 or email [email protected]. Don’t let nuisance pests take over your home!
