Using Lizards for Insect or Bug Control in the Home; Keeping Lizards for Indoor Pest Control
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I went to a friend’s house recently, and while visiting the powder room was surprised by the appearance of a baby gecko running across the floor and up the wall. Now my friend really likes animals, so I wasn’t too terribly surprised. You never know what kind of critter you’ll see while visiting her, or where it might have escaped to. You see, she does rabbit rescues and rehabilitates wildlife – in fact I was there volunteering on this particular visit.
I asked her if she knew it was in there. Nodding, she added, “He lives in the bathroom and catches insects. He came in when the window was open this spring. I hope he goes back out this fall when it cools off.” Now this guy was little, less than three inches from nose to tip of tail; so he was only catching very tiny insects at this point.
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Invited or Uninvited Guests
So I decided I wanted to check this out. My inquiring mind wanted to know: Was it feasible to use a lizard in a house for pest control? And were people doing it? It was an intriguing idea, and definitely a green choice for pest control. And I’ve seen pictures of lizards in houses; but, typically these were in houses that did not have screens on their windows. And, were the lizards there because the owners wanted them there, or were they there because the owners had no choice in the matter?
So I started my quest. To my surprise, upon my Google searches, I generally ended up on pest control sites where people were trying to get rid of lizards that were in their homes. I had not really expected that. I guess it really shouldn't have been surprising though because lizards would have an easier time of getting in than a mouse, which can't climb vertical surfaces. And if someone said they had a mouse in their house, I wouldn't be surprised.
"Lizard Infestation"
One of the forums had this question: “I live in Dallas and have an infestation of lizards at my home. What are my options to get rid of them? And don’t tell me to call pest control.” Now that question got my attention because I live just outside of Dallas, and I had never heard of anyone having a “lizard infestation”.
Most responders told the person with the lizard infestation to “get a kitty.” Apparently, kitties are faster than lizards.
Another responder told them to “Get rid of your bugs and you remove the lizard’s food source. No bugs, no lizards.” Okay … so, the lizards were a known bug control source. I was getting closer to an answer.
I found the next response hilarious as I picture the scenario in my head. They shared, “…unless you want to poison them, learn to live with them. I live just east of Dallas and we have them. I even got to work one day and had one in my pants…” Oh my … That would've certainly been a surprise visit. A new one...a take your lizard to work day!
Then I changed up my search words a little, and was able to find a more productive bit of information. The question to one of the forums was, “I know a friend with a German cockroach insect infestation and would like to know if releasing a gecko into her house would be a good idea to control insects. She’s tried … and physical attacks such as stomping and the vacuum cleaner to no avail.” Now, I thought, I’m finally getting somewhere. I also thought that I would have to be pretty desperate to chase bugs down using a vacuum cleaner. Yikes!
The forum post continued, “She’s losing the roach and insect war, and she needs a safer alternative to an exterminator — like geckos. What kinds do your readers use?” Bingo! Someone was asking the same question I was. Now, we were getting somewhere.
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The answer began by sharing that it is illegal in most states (in the U.S.) to release non-native animals of any kind, even lizards. Because of this, they went on to state, “…I can’t recommend this method despite its widespread popularity.”
Having stated that up front, they continued, “Wall-crawling geckos, such as the popular mixed-species bag of house geckos spreading across many warmer climes, need humidity above what’s inside most U.S. homes. They tend to dehydrate unless a few plants with moist soil or water trays are available to them. A house with lots of insects may sustain them with moisture-filled meals for a while — I don’t want to visit anyone in a house that can do that long term — but the geckos will probably die or find their way outside after a week.”
Okay, so maybe it’s not so feasible after all. This was a reptile forum, so they should know what they are talking about.
They also went on to confirm what some of the people in the other forum were stating. “Secondly, house pets such as cats are fatal to geckos. I know of one instance in which the owners released an adult tokay gecko (Gekko gecko) in their home to eat cockroaches. They assumed it would be too big and threatening for their cat to touch — adult tokays average more than a foot in length — but kitty proved more than a match. It snatched the running lizard off a wall before it knew what hit it. A cat that would grab a wild rat in its mouth will have no qualms about catching a mere gecko — even a tokay.”
Essentially all of my questions had been answered in this post. Yes, people actually do try to use lizards to remove pests from their home. And yes, it will work for a while. But it may be a very short while, especially if they own a cat.
So apparently, if the right conditions were provided, a lizard could be used as a form of bug control in the house.
But, you want to make sure that you 'Always leave home without them’.
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Comments: "Using Lizards for Insect or Bug Control in the Home; Keeping Lizards for Indoor Pest Control"Loading...
Cloverleaf, I can deal with the lizard better than the bugs, but I don't have any lizards lurking in my house. But I do enjoy watching them outside. We have several different ones in our yard.
here is one for you...how about using bull snakes for mice control? one day i went out to the chicken coop and there were 2 giant bull snakes hunting mice in the foundations of the old coop...and we had a huge mouse problem to. the snakes were not the least bit interested in the chickens. still, reluctantly, i removed them. many years later, when i was going through some stuff in a trailer we were using for storage i came across another bullsnake hunting mice....this time i left him to his hunting. i happen to like snakes. i know that cats dont and i have many cats. i think if i didnt have cats and a dad who hated snakes, i would allow a snakes free roam in my home to hunt mice. it would not bother me at all.
tlmcgaa70 - sounds like a good idea to me, although I don't think I would like one loose in my house. But I grew up on a farm, and we had several snakes around the farm that we knew were taking care of the mice and rats. A chicken coop has lots of mice, so they would be well fed. Just as long they didn't eat the eggs...
In the Philippines, we like having lizards around the house because they catch mosquitoes,bugs and other insects for food. For me they are a great pet because you don't have to buy them, they just come around, you don't have to take care of them, they do it themselves and yet they helped you by controlling some other pests around.
Eeks, how I hate lizards!! I prefer the smaller bugs than having a lizard in my home.
Admiral_Joraxx - I'm with you. I think it would be neat to have a lizard in the house to catch the bugs. I just wouldn't want to do it if I could not provide the right conditions for them and then have them die. I do look for them when I am outside. Thanks for your comment. I knew there were places where people liked keeping them in their homes.
qsera - I smile at your response, because I like lizards and hate the bugs. I have a big dislike/fear of spiders, so I definitely understand you saying you hate them. Glad you stopped by.
I LOVE this!
Voted up and more!
RunAbstract-Glad you enjoyed it. It is an interesting concept! Thanks for stopping by!
Interesting! We have many lizards around our home and I know they catch many bugs. I enjoy watching them..especially when the lizards change colors. Good article!
Thanks, jodiejay71. I love watching the lizards too. We don't have any that change colors though. The most colors ours exhibit is a bright blue tail. Thanks for stopping by.
you know, the funny thing is that i have not seen one single lizard in all my 11 years here on the rez. box turtles are nearly extinct here...i wonder if the lizards died out here as well.
tlmcgaa70, it would be sad if there were once lizards there and they are not anymore. We are experiencing the same thing with the horned toad / horny toad here in Tx, in fact it is illegal to handle one if you see one now, and I used to play with them as a child.
yes, i heard that to, even in arizona...and growing up in arizona we caught them every chance we got. we would play with them a bit then release them again. very cute little lizard, they horny toad. i never had one spit blood at me though...never even heard they could do that til i grew up and moved to tx.
Yes, tlmcgaa70, I remember them spitting blood at me. The reason they are getting so scarce is because the fire ants are killing off the ants that the horned toad eats.
my mother has always kept small lizards living in her indoor sun/plant room for insect control. it's good to know other people see their benefit.
Rick, thanks so much for stopping by. It really does seem like a good idea as long as we can provide the environment that they require to live.
This was awesome. I lived in a house in Southern California that was infested with potato bugs (I am fighting the gag reflex as I think about them) and we got three baby geckos and let them run free.
Unfortunately one of them got stepped on by a roommate in the kitchen in the middle of the night (Right? What are the odds...) The other two disappeared into the nether regions of the home. All the potato bugs were gone. I have (to this day) images of two 900 pound geckos under that house.
I am voting all the Up buttons I can find and have started following you. The reason for the follow you ask? The intriguing notation in your biography that you were going to write about poultry. A fowl subject...but one that needs addressing...
ThoughtSandwiches - Now I have images of two 900 pound geckos under that house! I'm just glad it's that house and not my house! :) I will do my best to take the fowl, or rather I mean foul, out of the subject of poultry. In fact, you might have to check out the silkie chicken articles, they are quite fowl, without being foul. Thanks for stopping by, commenting, and voting!
I have always loved to watch fence lizards outside, and I'm always telling people, "Leave them there. They eat lots of bugs." But I never really thought about having lizards indoors. This was an interesting read.
Silver Poet - Having a lizard in the house could be very interesting for sure. But I think it would be kind of neat too. I live out in the country and have more spiders than I like. One is more than I like! If the lizards would eat the spiders, I would welcome them. Thanks for stopping by!
What a great idea. I would much rather have a lizard in the house than bugs or mice. We catch frogs and make homes for them in our garden for natural bug control, so same concept I guess. We live in a pretty dry climate, so I don't think the lizard thing would work here, but we don't have a horrible bug problem either (thankfully!) Very interesting! Thanks for sharing.
LABrashear - They probably wouldn't do well in a very dry home. Although as dry as it has been here, I see them outside all the time. Bug--we've got BUGS! And lots of them. We need a good winter freeze to take care of them this year, unfortuantely with the drought, and then a really cold winter could do alot of plants especially trees in. Sure could use some rain!
I worked at a large Aquarium for a while and the owner had turned a variety of lizards loose in the store some 20 years prior. They thrived in the moist, warm environment. One of my least favorite tasks however, was cleaning up the lizard poop... and they do poop.....
During my time in South Africa we often had Gecko's crawling around the house and I'm sure that they ate plenty of bugs but not sure how many you would need to be totally; chemical free. Interesting idea. I never found them a problem. in fact I felt I was having an authentic African experience. They are so cute too.
davenmidtown - yes, what goes in must come out! But I've seen places where the roaches have pooped too, and that is gross too. Still not a fun job. Never seen lizard poop though, although I have seen toad. I would guess it would be the same. I can't believe i'm really having this conversation - can you?
Thanks for sharing!
molometer - Now that's what I'm talking about - an authentic African experience! And cute, to boot! The only time I would have a problem with them would be if they fell on me while I was sleeping or tried to crawl on me while I was sleeping. That could get to me! Also would not want them around my food. Thanks for sharing!
homesteadbound you would love them, they keep themselves to themselves and are more scared of us, so you wouldn't have to worry about them crawling on you. And you just have to make sure you leave no food lying around (not that they would eat it) Gecko's are great.
molometer - don't get me wrong. I don't mind lizards. In fact, we had a guy who was treating our house for termites, and I saw a lizard going into the liquid (termite insecticide?) and I put my hand between it and the liquid and it crawled right up my arm. It was really neat. The termite guy said it was the $?%?&est thing he'd ever seen. He couldn't believe a wild lizard would do that. But sometimes I have a way with animals. I just looked at the lizard for a while and then helped it crawl onto a tree. It's just when I don't expect it that I don't like it. So having said all that, you are probably right, I would love them.
Homesteadbound.... lizard poop looks a great deal like bird poop.... not like geese poop or duck poop, something like chicken poop, turkey poop, or even like a larger version of canary poop... when we talk about poop... it amazes me that deer poop and rabbit poop like identical... and seal poop looks a lot like dog poop. Bear poop on the other hand (so to speak) ... is just a mess. :-)
I don't know if I'm glad that we are having this conversation or not. I think you just told me and a whole lot of other folks more than we ever wanted to know. But while we're on the subject, from my personal experience, nothing is worse than chicken poop - that stuff sticks!
As a past master naturalist I can tell you that bear poop is not a mess ... it is scat!
Oh no, now I'm sounding like the poop expert ...I'm outta here before I get myself into trouble!
I think... and correct me if I am wrong... that cat poop is by far the worst poop to encounter....
You may be right...I've never compared them side by side. When I had chickens, I did not have indoor cats. Now that I have indoor cats I do not have chickens. I'll think I'll gladly hand the poop expert baton over to you! :)
One of the most interesting poops to examine are birds of prey... especially owls.
Been there, done that! When I was home schooling my kids, did it again! Lots of little bones.
This is a strange conversation going on! I'll add my two cents now..chicken poop is the poopiest!
Yes a strange conversation... thanks for your two cents. And thnks for stopping by!
nothing is poopier then goose poop... hence the saying... loose as a goose...
davenmidtown-okay ... you made me smile!
crap!
davenmidtown - made it up to a chuckle that time!
well fortunately it all comes out in the wash! lol
davenmidtown - I'm tempted to say that you are full of it, but I shall refrain. Me thinks you are having too much fun bugging me!
Cry me a river... me thinks you enjoy the bugging... else you'd stop replying... lol
Just being polite. Just being polite!
I think it builds culture... people must have had a fascination with poop... we have sayings like Cow Pie and Horse Apples... I personnel prefer not to study it unless I have too.
I think we can all use a little culture ...
and some class... thanks for chatting...
we will chat again some other time.
When I was living in Africa we found a very rare green chameleon. It was so cute. My daughter put it in her hair as a kind of hair clasp. It stayed there for ages (and did not poop!)
We let it loose in the lemon tree. Apparently one hadn't been seen for 30 years in that part of South Africa. Luckily we took some pictures.
Just had to add to the poop comments lol.
I hope that was the straight poop and nothing but the poop, molometer! :)
That was quite a merry trail he lead me down that night!
It must have been interesting to live in some different locations. I've lived in Texas my whole life.
That's for sharing your daughter's story. I bet it was really cute!
I have more I add... if you'd like... @molometer... how I would to visit Africa... just the insects alone would be a worthy part of the trip...
davenmidtown - what a pest you are! You're starting to 'bug' me! ;)
Would be nice to go to Africa, and Greece, and Hawaii, and .... I better stop. I'm getting depressed! :)
I bet they have Texas sized insects in Africa!
Very fascinating and useful hub.
melodyandes - I'm glad you enjoyed the read. Thanks for stopping by!
I don't know HSB I always think of Texas as if it is Africa. When you grow up in California... you just get the assumption Texas is rolling flat desert. Africa has some pretty tropical areas so I bet they have things like the giant Rhino beetles. It would certainly be interesting to see.
davenmidtown - some us can get kind of wild here in Texas! Some of Texas is flat rolling desert, and I fear after the drought this year, that there is more desert than there was a year ago. Just check out my Drought Man article.
I did a search to try and find the biggest insect in Texas and ran across the biggest bug in the world. You, especially, definitely want to go check this out! http://texasliberal.wordpress.com/2009/02/18/what-
A 22" long insect - one of your favorites!
The Titan beetle (Titanus giganteus) is the largest known beetle in the Amazon rain forest and one of the largest insect species in the world. It typically lives in the rain forests of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, the Guianas and north-central Brazil very near to the equator.
Still looking for Texas bugs...
The native in me however is restless, so I'm moving on to bigger and better things!
Wow, my perfect hub! :) I would love to have a lizard living alongside us in the house, (as I commented on another of your lizard hubs before seeing this one - spooky!). It would make a great pet, but be kind of self-sufficient if it could eat enough bugs.
I would also have to be sure that it was as happy about the situation as I would be. I'd want to treat the lizard right!
We had a newt in the house a few weeks ago. (Slightly similar to a lizard, although amphibians not reptiles!). I found it in the garden, and kept it for a few hours, so that my daughter could see it. I loved it! And it was great just letting it wander around, crawling on the furniture and exploring. I was quite sad to release it, but I didn't have the right provisions for caring for a newt, and it's probably a darn sight happier in the garden.
Moon Daisy - we might indeed have a lot in common. I do like lizards, but I have never come up against a poisonous one. They would be a self-sufficient pet.
A newt probably needs fairly moist conditions so your home would not be a good place. I bet your daughter enjoyed seeing it. I have seen salamanders, but I'm not sure if I have ever seen a newt.
Glad to see you again.
homesteadbound--I am originally from Michigan and so I got introduced to the lizard population when I moved out here to Arizona!! As a matter of fact, that very day that I read this hub, I just had an unromantic encounter with one on my gate when I reached up to undo the latch!!
Seeing that I am also afraid of worms...yes, I am....I just can't envision me warming up to something that is bigger and faster than my earthworm phobia!! LOL...thanks for sharing!!
stayingalivemoma - what a change - Michigan to Arizona! Wow! I bet you really had to get used to snakes and bugs too. And probably spiders. I am not fond of spiders and snakes. But lizards don't bother me. I can't imagine being scared of an earthworm, but I'll take your word for it! LOL. Glad you stopped by and obviously read the whole thing even though it wasn't one of your favorite subjects. Impressive!
Interesting and funny hub. We have hundreds of Geckos in this country and they are pretty much harmless. Although I would choose them over cockroaches, you also have to remember that what they 'clear' also has to come out the other end ... and as they can be upside-down, this can go anywhere. Another aspect is that they sometimes drop or jump, which has had they land in meals, on peoples heads, or just jump out of a dark corner ... they are harmless, but it doesn't half wake you up!! lol
Brett - I would not want them to land on me or my food unexpectedly. I especially would not like it if I was asleep went it happened! I'm glad you enjoyed the hub. Very interesting commment, now I have to go figure out where you live.
Ewwwwww!! i have an extreme dislike for lizards and wouldnt want one in my house. i would be better off with the bugs than the lizzards:) The lizs in this hub are quite colourful:) and i read in one of the comments that her daughter wore a chamelion in the head!! bravo.. :O that requires a great deal of courage.. very unique and intresting hub, voted up!!
carrie
carrie - funny, but I had a dream last night about catching lizards to keep as pets. Lizards don't bother me too much, but a snake or a spider would be a whole different matter.
I one time had a spider drop from the visor in my car onto me while I was driving. I'm lucky to have survived that one. It took extreme will power not to vacate the premises even though I was going 60 mph. LOL
Thanks for stopping by!
Hello HSB. Great hub, awesome. I learned bunches. Having lizards in the garden it is interesting watching them sun on the wall and run along the fence rail. I put some hallowed logs for them in the yard too, seems to be working. As far as spiders go there is a jumping spider living on my window sill. No flies, I must say - smile.
Thank you for sharing your adventure and knowledge
We had a great balance of lizards and more on our acre. Then the more aggressive blue bellies came and took over from the more placid ones. The blue bellies would pump up and down, looking for any bug to eat.
Then the cat came along and, little ecological nightmare that it was, age everything! Lizards, good and bad insects...
tsmog - I am glad that you enjoyed this hub. I have lots of lizards in my yard and I just love to look at them. Spiders are great bug catchers also, but I do not like them at all. Thanks so much!
Xenonlit - So sorry to hear of the loss of the lizards. Sounds like you were dealing with survival of the biggest!
Thanks to both of you for stopping by and helping to make my birthday a truly memorable one.
What an interesting hub! This takes bravery for some, I would think.
Thanks for sharing.
This is definitely a green solution to an insect problem but not one that many are willing to tolerate. Yes, I think it would take bravery for some, although very few lizards can cause harm to humans.
I moved to Auburn Alabama in 96 and the bugs are many down here. Got into spraying just like everyone I know then I started thinking about all of the poison in the soil and started looking for another method. I noticed a small lizard on occasion around the house, asked a "bug guy" about my newly formed idea and now I have quit using spray. This is my second summer without spray and I am trying to populate these lizards outside of the house. I've only seen one inside so far and I do have screens on the windows. Every night I turn on the outside porch lights to feed them. They are Mediterranean Geckos so they are nocturnal. So far every warm night I have seen at least one on the front of the house and they are getting fat!! Last year I saw one roach in the house and this year have not seen any so far. I want more lizards plain and simple. Nocturnal so my wife doesn't see them and the more I have of them the less bugs in and around the house. I think every one should do it.
tomac - your comment made me smile. Everyone should have a lizard or two, but only at night so the squeamish do not have to know they are there. I really do enjoy watching the lizards we have in our yard. I do not have any in the house, but I certainly wouldn't mind if they came in and made themselves as home. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing.
Cloverleaf Level 7 Commenter 9 months ago
Homesteadbound, what an interesting concept. Although I don't think I would be able to use the washroom knowing there's a lizard lurking around somewhere...! I can't decide which would be worse, the lizard or the bugs...
Cloverleaf