Common Pests in Texas

39 common pests found across the Lone Star State

Texas pest guide — quick facts

  • 39 pests covered with identification, health risk, treatment options, cost ranges, and prevention.
  • Most destructive: subterranean termites (especially Formosan on the Gulf Coast) — hundreds of millions in annual Texas damage.
  • Most medically significant: fire ants (sting anaphylaxis risk), mosquitoes (West Nile, Zika), black widow and brown recluse spiders.
  • Regional hot-spots: scorpions in Hill Country and West TX, Formosan termites on the Gulf Coast, kissing bugs (Chagas) in South TX, roof rats in coastal metros.
  • Peak pest pressure: March–October. Gulf Coast and Rio Grande Valley see activity year-round.

Texas's warm climate, high humidity along the Gulf Coast, and vast geographic diversity create ideal conditions for a wide range of pests. From subterranean termites causing billions in structural damage to fire ants colonizing every county in the state, pest pressure in Texas is year-round and region-specific.

Understanding which pests are active in your area — and when they peak — is the first step toward effective control. Below you will find detailed guides on the most common pests in Texas, including identification tips, health risks, treatment options, cost estimates, and prevention strategies. Whether you need general pest control, termite treatment, or wildlife removal, our guides link directly to licensed providers verified through the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) TPCL licensing database.

Texas pest activity follows a seasonal pattern. Spring (March–May) brings termite swarms, fire ant mound activity, and mosquito hatches as temperatures climb. Summer (June–August) is peak season for scorpions in the Hill Country around Austin, wasps nesting under eaves, and flea-and-tick season for pet owners. Fall sees rodents moving indoors as nights cool, while Gulf Coast cities like Houston and Corpus Christi deal with mosquitoes and cockroaches well into November. Even winter brings challenges — South Texas remains active year-round, and Dallas–Fort Worth homeowners often discover rodent infestations during the coldest months.

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Pest Threat, Season & Regional Pressure

PestPrimary threatSeasonTexas regional pressure
RodentsDisease + electrical/structural damagePeak fall/winterStatewide; Norway rat on coast, roof rat inland
Wasps & HornetsSting (medical for allergics), aggressive yellow jacketsApr–Oct, peak Aug–SepStatewide
RaccoonsAttic damage, rabies vectorYear-roundStatewide, more common urban/suburban
TermitesStructural — #1 cause of home damage in TXSwarms Mar–May, active year-roundStatewide; Formosan heaviest on Gulf Coast
CockroachesHealth — allergens, asthma triggersYear-round, peak summerStatewide; American roaches heavy in Houston/SA
Ants & Fire AntsNuisance + some property damage (carpenter)Year-round, peak Apr–SepStatewide
MosquitoesDisease — WNV, Zika, dog heartwormMar–NovHeaviest Gulf Coast + Rio Grande Valley
Bed BugsBites + major treatment costYear-roundUrban metros + hotels/apartments
SpidersMostly nuisance; black widow/brown recluse dangerousYear-round, peak fallStatewide
ScorpionsPainful sting, rare medical emergencyApr–OctHill Country, SA metro, W Texas, DFW outskirts
Fleas & TicksDisease — tick-borne illnesses, pet healthYear-round, peak summerStatewide
SnakesSome venomous (rattlesnake, copperhead, cottonmouth, coral)Mar–NovRural/suburban, Hill Country, Piney Woods
Brown Recluse SpiderMedical — necrotic tissue damage from bitesYear-round indoorsCentral and N Texas primarily
Palmetto Bugs & Water BugsLarge American cockroach; health/allergenYear-round, peak summerGulf Coast heavy
Black Widow SpiderMedical — neurotoxic venom, severe bitesYear-round outdoorsStatewide
Possums (Opossums)Property damage, tick carriersYear-roundStatewide
SquirrelsAttic/electrical damage, chewingYear-round, peak spring nestingStatewide
Fire AntsAggressive sting, agricultural + medicalMar–NovStatewide — red imported fire ant

Detailed Pest Guides

Rodents in Texas

Rodents

Mice and rats seeking shelter, contaminate food and gnaw wiring

Wildlife Removal →

Mice in Texas

Mice

House mice invade Texas homes, contaminate food, gnaw wiring, and breed fast

Wildlife Removal →

Rats in Texas

Rats

Roof rats and Norway rats infest Texas attics, garages, and foundations

Wildlife Removal →

Bees in Texas

Bees

Honey bees and Africanized bees swarm and build hives in walls, soffits, and trees across Texas

Wildlife Removal →

Wasps & Hornets in Texas

Wasps & Hornets

Aggressive when nests are disturbed, build near homes

Pest Control →

Raccoons in Texas

Raccoons

Nocturnal trash pandas that invade attics, spread rabies and cause property damage

Wildlife Removal →

Termites in Texas

Termites

Cause billions in property damage annually across Texas

Termite Treatment →

Cockroaches in Texas

Cockroaches

Thrive in Texas heat, trigger asthma, and spread disease

Pest Control →

Ants & Fire Ants in Texas

Ants & Fire Ants

Found in every Texas county, aggressive stingers

Pest Control →

Mosquitoes in Texas

Mosquitoes

Carry West Nile and Zika, active year-round in South Texas

Pest Control →

Bed Bugs in Texas

Bed Bugs

Spread through travel, hard to eliminate without professionals

Pest Control →

Spiders in Texas

Spiders

Brown recluse and black widow found across Texas

Pest Control →

Scorpions in Texas

Scorpions

Common in Hill Country and West Texas, painful stings

Pest Control →

Wind Scorpion (Camel Spider) in Texas

Wind Scorpion (Camel Spider)

Solifuges common in Texas — terrifying looking but completely non-venomous

Pest Control →

Fleas & Ticks in Texas

Fleas & Ticks

Affect pets and humans, carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Pest Control →

Snakes in Texas

Snakes

Four venomous species in Texas including rattlesnakes and copperheads

Wildlife Removal →

Brown Recluse Spider in Texas

Brown Recluse Spider

Venomous spider found across Texas, bites cause necrotic wounds

Pest Control →

Palmetto Bugs & Water Bugs in Texas

Palmetto Bugs & Water Bugs

Texas slang for large cockroaches — palmetto bugs, water bugs, and roaches

Pest Control →

Black Widow Spider in Texas

Black Widow Spider

Venomous spider with neurotoxic venom, common across Texas

Pest Control →

Possums (Opossums) in Texas

Possums (Opossums)

Common Texas wildlife — opossums invade attics, garages, and yards

Wildlife Removal →

Squirrels in Texas

Squirrels

Attic invaders that chew wiring and insulation across Texas homes

Wildlife Removal →

Fire Ants in Texas

Fire Ants

Invasive red imported fire ants — aggressive stingers found in every Texas county

Lawn & Landscape Care →

Norway Rat in Texas

Norway Rat

Stocky burrowing rat of basements, sewers, and foundations — larger than the roof rat

Wildlife Removal →

Subterranean Termites in Texas

Subterranean Termites

The most common termite in Texas — soil colonies, mud tubes, and hidden wood damage

Termite Treatment →

Formosan Termites in Texas

Formosan Termites

The "super termite" — huge colonies and carton nests along the Gulf Coast and Houston

Termite Treatment →

Drywood Termites in Texas

Drywood Termites

No soil contact needed — infests furniture, attics, and framing in South and coastal Texas

Termite Treatment →

Striped Bark Scorpion in Texas

Striped Bark Scorpion

The most common scorpion in Texas — climber, home invader, painful sting

Pest Control →

Lone Star Tick in Texas

Lone Star Tick

The most common biting tick in Texas — linked to alpha-gal red meat allergy and ehrlichiosis

Pest Control →

Wolf Spider in Texas

Wolf Spider

Large, hairy hunting spider — often confused with the brown recluse but harmless

Pest Control →

Chiggers in Texas

Chiggers

Tiny mites behind the worst itching in Texas — spring through fall in grass and brush

Pest Control →

Kissing Bug in Texas

Kissing Bug

Triatomine bugs that can carry Chagas disease — capture and report, don't touch

Pest Control →

Cicada Killer Wasp in Texas

Cicada Killer Wasp

Huge but gentle solitary wasps that dig lawn burrows and hunt cicadas in summer

Pest Control →

Paper Wasp in Texas

Paper Wasp

Umbrella-shaped nests under eaves and porch ceilings — defensive but manageable

Pest Control →

German Cockroach in Texas

German Cockroach

The small kitchen roach — fastest-breeding indoor cockroach, hardest to eliminate

Pest Control →

Carpenter Ant in Texas

Carpenter Ant

Large black ants that excavate damp wood — sawdust piles and rustling in walls

Pest Control →

Brown Widow in Texas

Brown Widow

The black widow's milder cousin — spiky egg sacs, orange hourglass, spreading along the Gulf Coast

Pest Control →

Roof Rat in Texas

Roof Rat

The attic rat of Texas — sleek climber of trees, power lines, and rooflines

Wildlife Removal →

Texas Brown Tarantula in Texas

Texas Brown Tarantula

The iconic Texas tarantula — docile, gentle, and best left alone

Pest Control →

Giant Desert Centipede in Texas

Giant Desert Centipede

Scolopendra heros — up to 8 inches of red-headed, yellow-legged nocturnal hunter

Pest Control →

Common Texas Pests — FAQ

Authoritative Sources — Texas Pest Species Guides