Texas pest pressure follows distinct seasonal patterns driven by the state's climate zones. Spring brings fire ant mating flights and termite swarms across Central and East Texas. Summer mosquito season can start as early as March along the Gulf Coast. Fall drives rodents indoors as temperatures drop, and mild winters in South Texas mean year-round cockroach and scorpion activity. Effective prevention requires understanding which pests are active in your area and when — generic advice rarely applies across a state that spans 800 miles north to south. Our guides are built around Texas-specific pest calendars, regional climate data, and IPM principles recommended by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.
The average Texas homeowner spends $400-$600 annually on professional pest control, according to industry surveys. Many common pest problems — ant trails, occasional invaders, minor rodent entry — can be prevented or reduced through exclusion, moisture management, and habitat modification before they require professional treatment. However, some situations (active termite damage, German cockroach infestations, wildlife in attics) require licensed professionals, and delay can significantly increase treatment costs. Our coverage helps Texas homeowners distinguish between DIY-appropriate situations and those requiring a licensed TPCL operator, with realistic cost expectations for both paths.
19 articles in this category
A new Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute publication targets feral pig control on small acreage and in metro areas, where city codes and HOAs limit traps and firearms.
Late summer through fall is drywood termite swarm season in Texas. How to tell swarmers from flying ants, what a swarm indoors really means, and your first-24-hours action plan.
Field crickets swarm Texas storefronts and homes every September-October. Why it happens, when it ends, and how to stop crickets — and the scorpions that follow them.
Roof rats and house mice push indoors every Texas fall. Identify which rodent you have, find every entry point, and seal it — the complete homeowner guide.
Texas winters don't kill pests — they relocate them into your walls. Where each pest overwinters, the month-by-month timeline, and how to shut your home down.
Rodents, roaches, scorpions, and spiders move indoors as Texas cools down. Use this fall pest-proofing checklist to seal your home before they settle in.
How to request mosquito control — inspections, treatment, and spraying — from county health departments in Harris, Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and surrounding counties, with contacts for each.
Where to get Texas A&M AgriLife's free screwworm fact sheets, how to check your animals for warning signs of myiasis, and the steps to report a suspected case in Texas.
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension entomologist Dr. Robert Puckett offers practical advice for spotting and avoiding bed bugs during hotel stays.