Recent rains have forced a species of beetle out of the ground and into businesses across South Texas.
"They're outside, but they're starting to go inside," said Brenda Terrazaz. "I have to pick them up every day."
At Terrazaz's place of work, it is a constant battle against the invading beetles.
"I'm always checking that they're not crawling up my leg," joked Terrazaz.
According to Molly Keck, an entomologist with Texas AgriLife Extension, the insect is known as a ground beetle. It is a common species in South Texas, but usually lives underground.
During rare events, however, they show up on the surface.
"This is their year for some reason," said Keck. "I've never seen them like this before, so the only thing I can blame it on is the weather."
Keck believed that recent rains either flooded them out of the ground or made their prey -- other insects -- more active. With more insects to eat, the beetles may have come to the surface to feed.
It is a process that can actually be beneficial to gardens, ridding them of destructive insects.
"If you find them in your garden, you want to keep them around," said Keck. "They don't bite people, they don't sting, they don't do anything bad, and they're just annoying right now."
The beetles are attracted to light-colored buildings and lights. They will be more numerous at night around outdoor lights. According to Keck, the invasion of beetles likely will not last much longer.
"Give it two more weeks," said Keck. "In two weeks, we won't see another one for a long time."
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