Pest control in Texas

What to know about pest control in Texas

Texas is big enough to have several pest climates at once. Homes on the upper Gulf Coast deal with a different termite than homes in the Panhandle, and fire ants and scorpions turn up in yards across much of the state. Knowing what lives near you helps you ask a company the right questions.

Common pests in Texas

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the state health department point to a few pests that Texas homeowners run into often.

• Formosan termites. This aggressive subterranean termite is mostly found on the upper Gulf Coast, but AgriLife says to watch for isolated infestations anywhere in Texas. Ask any termite company which termite it found before you agree to a plan.
• Red imported fire ants. Fire ants have spread across most of the eastern part of the state and into some cities in West Texas. AgriLife recommends treating a whole neighborhood together, since mounds come back from untreated yards nearby.
• Scorpions. The striped bark scorpion is the most common scorpion in Texas. It climbs walls and trees and often ends up in attics, and it can come indoors in hot weather.
• Kissing bugs. The Texas Department of State Health Services says the insects that can spread Chagas disease are found in all regions of Texas. If you find one and are worried about a bite, contact your doctor and the department's zoonosis control office.

Who licenses pest control companies in Texas

Structural pest control in Texas is licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture through its Structural Pest Control Service. Both the business and its technicians and applicators hold licenses. The department publishes a list of current structural pest control licenses for businesses and individuals that you can download and search.

How to check a company before you hire

1. Get the company's business license number and look it up in the department's current license list.
2. Ask which pest the technician found and what evidence points to it.
3. Ask how the treatment works, what you need to do before the visit, and how many follow-up visits are included.
4. Get the treatment plan and any warranty in writing, including what happens if the pest comes back.
5. Read reviews from local customers to see how the company handled problems after the first visit. You can share your own experience once the job is done.