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F@stSheet Ent-1019

Geckos in homes IN THIS F@STSHEET IDENTIFICATION BIOLOGY & DAMAGE CONTROL

        Geckos are a specialized group of tropical and subtropical lizards known for their ability to scale vertical walls with the help of specialized suction cup-like structures on their feet. In Texas, two introduced species of geckos, Hemidactylus turcicus and Hemidactylus fernatus, are frequently found around homes and other buildings.  Geckos have adapted well to living in and around homes.  For this reason, their numbers and range seem to be on the increase in many areas.

IDENTIFICATION
        Both gecko species are small, generally less than about four inches-long. The skin color is variable, changing with temperature; but is generally a creamy-gray color. Hemidactylus turcicus is covered with tiny tubercles, or bumps, on the body and tail, while H. fernatus is generally smooth skinned, with a more flattened tail. Both species may exhibit banding on the tail in juvenile stages.

BIOLOGY & DAMAGE
Geckos are well adapted to living in close proximity to man.   Frequently groups of adult geckos will establish themselves in the eaves and soffits of homes, where they mate and reproduce.   Young, one to three inch-long, geckos appear in midsummer.  These immature geckos are more often seen indoors as they seek new harborage. 
Geckos feed on insects and frequently found near lighted windows and outdoor lights, where small insects are abundant during the warm season.  Geckos are nocturnal, being most active during the evening and nighttime hours.  They remain active throughout the spring, summer and fall when they can become extremely abundant outdoors on screens and brick walls.  They enter the home through gaps around doorways or windows near these outdoor aggregation sites.
        Geckos are not harmful, but their presence in the home is considered undesirable by many people.   Gecko droppings can stain and contaminate carpets, floors, walls and curtains. 

CONTROL
       No pesticides are registered for gecko control.  Pesticides used for general insect control may have some effect on gecko numbers by reducing their food supply; however the impact probably will be minimal. Doors and windows should be well-sealed and caulked--especially those near outdoor lights. Caulking should also be used to seal all cracks and crevices around brick walls, roof lines, and soffits of homes.  Geckos commonly use poorly sealed gaps around soffits and brick facings as hiding places during the day.  It is important to eliminate as many of these harborages as practical by sealing with silicon caulks or expanding foam sealers. 
        Glue boards and sticky cards, available through do-it-yourself pest control supply stores or pest control companies, will catch and kill geckos. Catch may be improved by placing traps near lights and windows outdoors surfaces where geckos prefer to congregate.  Outdoor trapping is often more effective in reducing the numbers of breeding pairs of geckos.  Small, immature geckos can be captured and killed indoors. 

Author:
Michael Merchant, Ph.D., Urban Entomologist, Texas Agricultural Extension Service  [Thanks to Mr. David Roberts, Dallas Zoo, for technical information in this fact sheet pertaining to geckoes and their control]

Publication information:
This publication is part of the House & Landscape Pest Series produced by the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475. The most recent update can be found at: http://citybugs.tamu.edu/FastSheets/Ent-1019.html . Series Editor: M. Merchant. For more information about arthropods, check out the Texas A&M Entomology Website at http://insects.tamu.edu/
Last revised: 9/6/01