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Pest control in Texas
What are the most common pests in this state, and who handles them?
Pest control in Texas changes sharply by region: Formosan termites run the upper Gulf Coast including Houston, striped bark scorpions dominate Central Texas and the Hill Country, fire ants cover the eastern two-thirds of the state, and the Rio Grande Valley sees mosquitoes year round. PestChief matches Texas homeowners with one independent local pest control company for their ZIP code.
Where can you read about each pest?
Pest pressure here is shaped by climate, geography and housing stock, so it varies across the state. The notable issues for this state are set out on this page. For how each pest is identified, what the signs look like and what treatment usually involves, read the pest guides.
What is the climate like here?
Climate is the biggest single driver of which pests live here and how long their season runs.
Which pest issues stand out here?
- Formosan subterranean termites along the upper Gulf Coast, including Houston
- Striped bark scorpions across Central Texas and the Hill Country
- Imported fire ants throughout the eastern two-thirds of the state
- Year-round mosquito activity in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley
- Roof rats in mature urban landscaping in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio
Which pests are active in each season?
Activity shifts through the year, so the pest worth treating in March is rarely the one worth treating in August.
Which pests are active in spring?
Which pests are active in summer?
Which pests are active in fall?
Which pests are active in winter?
How does pest pressure vary by region?
Pest pressure is not uniform across a state. Elevation, humidity, soil and the age of the housing stock all change which pests appear and when.
Gulf Coast
Anchors: Houston, Beaumont, Galveston
Formosan termites, the longest mosquito season in the state, high humidity pressure and roof rats. Drywood termites reach their highest concentration in the state here, and the tawny crazy ant has spread to all coastal counties since it was found in Harris County in 2002.
- Formosan termites
- Mosquitoes
- Roof rats
- Tawny crazy ants
Texas A&M E-367: Formosan subterranean termites Texas A&M E-366: Drywood termites Texas A&M ENTO-PU-219: Tawny crazy ant Texas A&M L-1916: Roof rats
Central
Anchors: Austin, San Antonio, Waco
Striped bark scorpions are the dominant complaint, fire ants are heavy, and native termites swarm in a spring window. Formosan termites have been found in Bexar, Comal, Hays and Travis counties.
- Striped bark scorpions
- Fire ants
- Native termites
Texas A&M E-362: Scorpions Texas A&M L-5070: Two-Step Method for fire ants Texas A&M E-367: Formosan subterranean termites
North
Anchors: Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano
The highest termite job values in the state and a genuine, if short, winter break. The NWS normal first freeze at DFW is 22 November and the last is 12 March. Formosan termites are isolated finds in Dallas, Denton, Tarrant and Collin counties.
- Native termites
- Fire ants
- Mosquitoes
NWS Fort Worth: Freeze data Texas A&M E-367: Formosan subterranean termites
West
Anchors: El Paso, Midland, Lubbock
A desert profile with the highest scorpion diversity in the state and a shorter, drier season. Fire ants are absent westward. Turkestan cockroaches are one of the most common outdoor cockroaches in El Paso. The NWS normal first freeze at El Paso is 15 November and the last is 6 March.
- Scorpions
- Turkestan cockroaches
- Mosquitoes
Texas A&M E-362: Scorpions Texas A&M ENTO-037: Cockroach biology and management NWS El Paso: Freeze data
South
Anchors: Corpus Christi, McAllen, Brownsville
The earliest termite swarm dates in the state and near year-round activity. The Rio Grande Valley is the only Texas region with local dengue transmission, with a season of September to November.
- Native termites
- Mosquitoes
- Fire ants
Texas A&M Urban Entomology: Native subterranean termites Texas DSHS: Arbovirus activity report
Which regions of the state face which pests?
| Pest | Gulf Coast / Houston | Central / Austin and San Antonio | North / DFW | West / El Paso | South / Rio Grande Valley |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native subterranean termite | Dominant, highest in state | Present | Present, later swarm | Noticed less often in far West Texas | Swarms start Jan to Feb |
| Formosan termite | Core zone: Ship Channel, Galveston, Texas City, Beaumont to Orange | Bexar, Comal, Hays, Travis | Isolated: Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, Collin | Absent | Cameron, Hidalgo |
| Red imported fire ant | Heavy | Heavy, spring bait window | Bait season May to Sep | Absent westward | Heavy |
| Tawny crazy ant | Origin Harris County 2002, all coastal counties | Travis, Bexar, Comal, Hays, Williamson | Absent | Absent | Cameron, Hidalgo |
| Striped bark scorpion | Present | Dominant complaint | Present | Highest diversity in the state | Present |
| Mosquitoes and West Nile | High | Present | High | Highest state incidence, plus St. Louis encephalitis | Present |
| Dengue | Vector present, no local transmission | Vector present | Vector present | Vector present | The only Texas region with local dengue. Season Sep to Nov |
| Roof rat | Nests high, attics and double walls | Present | Present | Present | Present |
When do termites swarm in each region?
| Species | Months | Time of day | Trigger | Regional detail |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Native subterranean | Jan to Apr | Daylight | Usually after rain | South Texas Jan to Feb. Panhandle Apr to May |
| Formosan | Early May to Jun | Night, drawn to lights | Not specified by Texas sources | 31 counties, core upper Gulf Coast. First found 1956 at the Houston Ship Channel |
| Drywood, I. snyderi | Late Aug to early Sep | Night, drawn to lights | Not specified | Highest concentration on the Gulf Coast |
| Drywood, I. minor | Late Aug to early Sep | Daytime | Not specified | Less common |
Is your ZIP code in Texas covered?
PestChief is free to the homeowner. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code, not state by state. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company, and it contacts you directly.
What licensing should you ask a company for?
Licensing is the one check a homeowner can make before any work starts. Every state requires a pest control company to hold a license, and most require a separate certification for specialty work such as termite treatment. Ask for the license number, confirm it covers the pest you have, and check it with the state agency that issues it.
What does this state require of a licensed company?
- Structural pest control in Texas is regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Structural Pest Control Service. Ask any company for its TDA business license number and the certified applicator responsible for your job. Texas Department of Agriculture: SPCS fees
- Texas mandates a TDA wood destroying insect (WDI) report, form SPCS/T-5, on real-estate transactions. It may be performed only by a TDA-licensed WDI inspector, under 4 Tex. Admin. Code § 7.176. It is a legally required inspection, not an optional extra. Texas Department of Agriculture: WDI report form SPCS/T-5 4 Tex. Admin. Code § 7.176
- TDA license fees have been unchanged since 2016: business license $300, certified applicator $125, technician $125, apprentice $125, and $64 per exam category. Texas Department of Agriculture: SPCS fees
What else should you know about this state?
A few state specific details that change how pest control works here, and what they mean for a homeowner.
- Formosan subterranean termites have been detected in 31 Texas counties since they were first found near Houston in 1956. They are concentrated in the upper Gulf Coast: Harris, Galveston, Jefferson, Orange and Chambers counties. Colonies exceed one million insects and cause damage faster than native subterranean termites. Texas A&M states there is little chance of meeting them outside the upper Gulf Coast. Texas A&M E-367: Formosan subterranean termites Texas A&M Urban Entomology: Native subterranean termites
- Formosan termites swarm at night in May and June. Native subterranean termites swarm in daylight, January to April. These are different events with different responses: a night swarm at a porch light in May points to Formosans, a daytime swarm after a spring rain points to natives. Texas A&M E-367: Formosan subterranean termites Texas A&M B-6080: Subterranean termites
- Peak termite swarming advances north through Texas at roughly 25 miles per day, reaching Corpus Christi around 23 February and Amarillo around 6 May. It is driven by accumulated heat, not the calendar, which is why a Texas homeowner needs a regional calendar rather than a national one. Texas A&M Urban Entomology: Native subterranean termites
- Red imported fire ants are bimodal: mounds collapse in mid-summer heat and dry soil, then activity returns in fall. Texas A&M recommends the Texas Two-Step Method: broadcast bait across the whole yard from late August to mid-October, then treat individual mounds. Apply bait at roughly 70°F or above when ants are foraging, and not within 48 hours of rain. Texas A&M L-5070: Two-Step Method for fire ants Texas A&M fire ant FAQ
- Roof rats breed heaviest in winter and spring on the Gulf Coast, which inverts the national fall rodent story. They nest high, in attics and double walls. Texas A&M L-1916: Roof rats
- German cockroaches are year round indoors across Texas and do not live outdoors in the state. Texas A&M ENTO-037: Cockroach biology and management
- Both medically significant Texas spiders, the brown recluse and the black widow, are found year round in buildings, so neither has a seasonal peak. Texas A&M: Southern black widow spider
- Chiggers run from late May to early October on the Gulf Coast, peak June to July in Central Texas, and are near year round in South Texas. Texas A&M AgriLife Today: Chigger season
Which metro areas are covered?
Coverage varies inside a state, not only between states. A company that covers one metro area may not cover a rural ZIP code two counties away, and the pests it is licensed to treat can differ as well. The metro areas listed here are where PestChief most often has a company to introduce you to. If your city is not listed, a ZIP code check is still worth doing.
What do homeowners ask most?
What pests are most common in Texas?
No single pest list fits Texas; the five regions carry five different profiles. The heaviest statewide pressures:
- Formosan subterranean termites along the upper Gulf Coast, including Houston
- Striped bark scorpions across Central Texas and the Hill Country
- Imported fire ants throughout the eastern two-thirds of the state
- Year-round mosquito activity in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley
- Roof rats in mature urban landscaping in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio
When is pest season in Texas?
Pest season in Texas depends on where you live: South Texas runs close to year round, while North Texas gets a short winter break.
Spring: Termite swarms across the state; fire ants and scorpions become active. Summer: Peak mosquito, roach and scorpion pressure; ants forage heavily. Fall: Rodents move indoors in the north and center; roach and ant pressure remains high. Winter: Mild winters keep activity going, especially in the south.
When do termites swarm in Texas?
It depends on the species, per Texas A&M termite publications. Native subterranean termites swarm in daylight from January to April, usually after rain, starting in South Texas in January and February and reaching the Panhandle by April and May. Formosan termites swarm at night from early May into June, drawn to lights, concentrated on the upper Gulf Coast. Drywood termites swarm in late August and early September.
How do you deal with fire ants in a Texas yard?
Texas A&M's published approach is the Two-Step Method: broadcast bait across the whole yard from late August to mid-October, then treat individual mounds. Bait works at roughly 70F and above while ants are foraging, and not within 48 hours of rain. An independent local company matched through PestChief can carry this out; PestChief itself performs no treatments.
Who licenses pest control companies in Texas?
The Texas Department of Agriculture regulates structural pest control through its Structural Pest Control Service, licensing businesses, certified applicators and technicians by category. Ask for the TDA business license number and the certified applicator responsible for your job. On real estate transactions, Texas also requires a TDA wood destroying insect report, form SPCS/T-5.
How much does pest control cost in Texas?
Published national estimates: about $171 for a single visit (This Old House national average), $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor) for a one time treatment program, and $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) a year on a recurring plan, none of them PestChief quotes. In Texas the job depends heavily on the region and pest: Formosan termite work on the Gulf Coast is a different job from scorpion service in the Hill Country. The company that inspects your home sets the actual price.
Does PestChief cover Texas?
Texas coverage includes Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio and Austin. Coverage in a state this large is set ZIP code by ZIP code and company by company, so enter your ZIP code in the locations finder to check your own address. PestChief passes your request to one independent local pest control company that covers your ZIP code and handles your pest, and that company contacts you directly. If no company covers your ZIP code, PestChief tells you so.
Where does this information come from?
Seasonality and pest biology
- US EPA, Integrated Pest Management principles
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Home and Landscape pests
- US EPA, Safe Pest Control
- Penn State Extension
Pricing
National estimates from published industry sources. Not PestChief quotes.
Licensing
Licensing is administered by Texas Department of Agriculture.
Ready to get this handled?
It costs the homeowner nothing. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company. It contacts you directly, and it sets its own price.
What should you check before you hire?
Every state we cover
Browse the full list of states and metro areas, and check whether your area is covered.
Pests, one by one
Identification, signs of an infestation and what to do first, for each pest we cover.
What pest control costs
National ranges by treatment type, with the basis for each figure stated plainly.
Season by season
Which pests get active when, and the months worth acting in before a problem grows.
Learn the basics
Plain explanations of treatments, prevention and the questions worth asking a company.
How PestChief works
We match a homeowner with one independent local pest control company. Here is what happens.