ABC Home & Commercial Services

IPM is a science-based approach that combines prevention, monitoring, and targeted treatment to manage pests with minimal chemical use. It includes sealing entry points, removing food and water sources, and using pesticides only when necessary. Many licensed Texas companies offer IPM programs as a long-term, environmentally responsible option.

Key questions include: Are you licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture? What is your TPCL number? What specific treatment do you recommend and why? What products will you use? Do you offer a guarantee or warranty? Are your technicians certified applicators? What preparation is needed on my part?

A standard interior/exterior treatment takes 30–60 minutes for an average-sized home. Termite inspections take 1–2 hours. Full termite treatments may require a full day. Fumigation involves 2–3 days of preparation, treatment, and aeration. Your technician will provide a time estimate based on your property.

An inactive license means the company has not renewed their TPCL with the Texas Department of Agriculture. This could be due to business closure, failure to meet insurance requirements, or voluntary non-renewal. Companies with inactive licenses cannot legally perform pest control services in Texas.

The TDA issues licenses with specific category codes: P (General Pest Control), T (Termite Treatment), L (Lawn & Landscape), W (Wildlife Removal), C (Crack & Crevice), S (Structural Fumigation), and D (Waste Disposal). Each category authorizes different types of pest management work.

General pest control (Category P) covers common household pests including cockroaches, ants, spiders, silverfish, earwigs, crickets, centipedes, and occasional invaders. Some companies include mosquito and flea treatments in their general service, while others offer these as add-ons.

Texas has three main termite types: Eastern subterranean termites (most common, found statewide), Formosan subterranean termites (aggressive species in Southeast Texas and coastal areas), and drywood termites (found in attics and furniture, mainly in South and Coastal Texas). Each requires different treatment approaches.

Most professional lawn treatments are pet-safe once dry, usually within 1–2 hours. Granular products may require watering in and drying before allowing pet access. Let your technician know you have pets so they can select appropriate products and advise on re-entry timing.

Wildlife removal (Category W) in Texas covers raccoons, opossums, squirrels, skunks, bats, armadillos, snakes, birds (when nesting in structures), and rats/mice. Licensed operators use humane trapping and exclusion methods in compliance with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department regulations.

General spraying applies product broadly across surfaces, while crack and crevice treatment places small, precise amounts of product directly where pests hide. This reduces overall chemical use by 80–90%, minimizes exposure to people and pets, and often provides better results because it targets pests in their actual harboring sites.

Structural fumigation (Category S) involves sealing a building under a tent and introducing a gaseous fumigant that penetrates all areas — walls, attics, furniture, and structural timbers. It is the most thorough treatment method and is primarily used for severe drywood termite infestations or widespread pest problems that cannot be resolved with localized treatments.

Texas has four types of venomous snakes: rattlesnakes (Western diamondback, timber, and others), copperheads (common in East and Central Texas), cottonmouths/water moccasins (near water sources), and coral snakes (Southeast Texas). If you cannot identify a snake, keep your distance and call a wildlife removal professional.

The most common Texas pests include fire ants, cockroaches (American and German), termites (subterranean and Formosan), mosquitoes, scorpions, spiders (brown recluse and black widow), wasps, rodents, bed bugs, and fleas/ticks. The warm climate and diverse geography create ideal conditions for a wide variety of pests year-round.

Modern eco-friendly methods including botanical insecticides, essential oil repellents, diatomaceous earth, and biological controls can be effective for many common pests. They work best as part of an IPM program that emphasizes prevention and monitoring. For severe infestations, conventional products may be needed initially before transitioning to green maintenance.