What should Houston homeowners know before hiring pest control?

Houston's humid, rainy Gulf Coast climate keeps termites, fire ants, rodents and mosquitoes active, and Texas's first Formosan termite infestations were found here in 1956. Hire a company licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture in the categories you need, especially termite control. For mosquitoes, Harris County Public Health's Mosquito and Vector Control Division handles countywide surveillance and treatment.

Key facts for Houston, TX

• Houston sits on the flat Coastal Plains about 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and 25 miles from Galveston Bay, and NOAA describes its climate as predominantly marine.
• Normal annual rainfall at Houston Intercontinental Airport is 51.84 inches (1991 to 2020), with June the wettest month at 6.00 inches.
• Normal annual relative humidity at Houston Intercontinental is 75 percent, and it averages 86 percent at midnight.
• Houston Intercontinental recorded 39.11 inches of rain in August 2017, its wettest month on record, during Hurricane Harvey.
• The Harris County Flood Control District estimated nearly 136,000 structures flooded in Harris County during Harvey.
• Formosan termites were first found in Texas in 1956 near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Harris County.
• In NWS's Harris County summary for Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, power outages peaked at around 2.7 million people, and Houston Hobby Airport recorded an 84 mph gust.
• Harris County mosquito treatments run between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m., weather permitting.

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Meridian Home Service Pros pays to be featured on this Houston, TX guide. The guide itself is written by our editorial team from the public sources listed below.

How does Houston's climate affect pests?

NOAA's climate summary for Houston Intercontinental Airport describes a predominantly marine climate. Winds off the Gulf keep winters mild and bring abundant rainfall. Normal annual rainfall at the airport is 51.84 inches, and humidity averages 75 percent across the year.

That warmth and moisture matter for pests that need water. EPA's termite guidance stresses keeping soil around a foundation dry, fixing leaks and sealing cracks. In Houston, rain can arrive in any month, so drainage and gutters deserve a look during any inspection.

Flooding adds risk. NWS says Hurricane Harvey dropped between 4.62 and 56 inches across the region in 2017 and caused catastrophic flooding on nearly every one of Harris County's 22 watersheds. In 2024, Hurricane Beryl caused widespread tree and power line damage across the county. Fallen limbs, wet wood and storm-damaged roofs can open new paths for termites and rodents.

Why do Formosan termites matter in Houston?

Texas's first Formosan termite infestations were found in 1956 near the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension believes they arrived in wooden shoring timbers from the Far East.

AgriLife calls the species one of the most aggressive and economically devastating termites in the world. Its colonies are at least four times as large as those of native subterranean termites and can grow past one million individuals within five years. It attacks living trees and can build nests above ground inside walls.

Formosan swarmers fly at night from early May through June and are drawn to lights. Texas A&M's urban entomology center says swarmers indoors, especially near windows, often signal an active infestation. AgriLife also warns that recycled railroad ties and shoring timbers used in landscape beds are thought to be the main way the species spreads.

When you hire for termite work, confirm the company holds the Texas termite control category, and ask how its treatment plan addresses aerial nests as well as soil colonies.

Who handles mosquitoes in Harris County?

Harris County Public Health's Mosquito and Vector Control Division works to prevent and control mosquito-borne disease using an integrated vector management approach. Its services include surveillance, virology testing, control and evaluation. All treatments happen between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m., weather permitting, and proposed treatment areas are posted on a county map.

Residents can report problems through the division's Report an Issue page or call (713) 440-4800. KPRC reported in June 2026 that the county's inspection request form is for identifying breeding sites and getting source reduction advice. It is not a request for treatment.

Private yard mosquito service does not replace the county program. Dumping standing water and fixing drainage are the first steps either way.

What about fire ants and roof rats?

Red imported fire ants infest the eastern two-thirds of Texas, Houston included. Texas A&M AgriLife recommends the Two-Step Method: broadcast bait across the whole yard, then treat problem mounds directly. AgriLife says rain exposes new mounds in spring, and spring and fall are good times for bait.

AgriLife Extension says roof rats are quite common in urban communities in east Texas and across the South. Rats in attics can contaminate stored items and chew wiring, which can start a fire. A roof rat can get through a gap as narrow as half an inch. Ask any rodent provider how it will find and seal entry points, not only set traps.

How to choose a provider in Houston, TX

• Confirm the company's Texas business license and that it has a certified applicator in termite control if you need termite work.
• Ask how the inspection checks for Formosan termite signs, including swarmers near windows from May through June and nests inside walls.
• Ask for written termite disclosures, the termiticide label and the warranty before any treatment.
• After a flood or storm, ask the inspector to check wet wood, damaged roofs and debris near the foundation.
• For roof rats, ask how the company will seal entry points in the roof and attic.
• For fire ants, ask whether the plan follows the AgriLife Two-Step Method.
• Use the Harris County Mosquito and Vector Control Division for breeding-site inspections and disease-related treatment questions.
• Keep the TDA consumer information sheet and service records.

More pest control guides for Houston

• Meridian Home Service Pros Brings Local, Licensed Pest Control to Houston and Corpus ChristiHomeowners from Corpus Christi to The Woodlands get a careful inspection, a clear price before the work begins and honest advice with no pressure.
• Rodent control in Houston, Katy and Sugar Land: what works and what to expectEffective rodent control in West Houston and Fort Bend County comes down to an inspection that finds how rats or mice get in, trapping matched to the species, sealing every gap, and follow-up until signs stop. Roof rats in tree canopy and Norway rats along bayous and drainage ditches are the two local patterns to know.
• What are the signs of rats or mice in your house?The surest signs are fresh droppings, gnaw marks, greasy rub marks along walls, shredded nesting material and scratching in walls or the attic at night. Here is how to check each room of a Houston or Corpus Christi home and how to tell an old problem from an active one.
• Roof rat, Norway rat or mouse? How to tell which rodent is in your Texas homeRoof rats are sleek climbers with tails longer than their bodies that live up high in attics and trees. Norway rats are heavier burrowers that live low, along foundations and drains. House mice are small, curious and fit through a hole the size of a dime. Here is how to tell them apart and why it changes the plan.
• Rats in the attic: what the noises mean and what to do firstScurrying or gnawing overhead at night, droppings on the attic floor and tunnels in the insulation usually mean roof rats. The fix has three parts that must happen together: remove the rats, seal every way in, and clean up safely. Here is how that works in a Gulf Coast attic.
• How do rats and mice get into Houston and Corpus Christi homes, and how do you seal them out?Mice fit through a gap about the width of a pencil and rats through a hole about the size of a quarter. On Gulf Coast homes they usually get in at the roofline, the garage door, brick weep holes, and where pipes, AC lines and cables enter. Sealing works when every gap is closed with the right material and the rodents already inside are removed.
• Why do rats and mice move indoors in fall and winter on the Gulf Coast?Rodents do not hibernate. When the first cool fronts reach Houston and Corpus Christi, mice that spent the summer outdoors and young rats from the fall breeding season look for warm shelter close to food, and attics, garages and wall voids fit. Here is the season-by-season pattern and a fall checklist that keeps them out.
• Found rat or mouse droppings? What to do and how to clean them up safelyDo not sweep or vacuum them. The CDC's method is to air the space out for 30 minutes, put on rubber or plastic gloves, soak the droppings with a bleach solution or disinfectant for 5 minutes, wipe them up with paper towels and bag them. Then find out whether rodents are still active and how they got in.
• How do you get rid of rats and mice: DIY traps or call a pest control pro?A mouse or two in the kitchen is often a do-it-yourself job with snap traps set the CDC way and the entry point sealed. Rats in the attic, activity that lasts more than a week or two, roofline entry points or a household with kids, pets or health concerns are good reasons to call a licensed pro. Here is how to decide and what each route involves.
• Rodent control in Corpus Christi: rats, mice and what coastal homeowners should doIn Corpus Christi, roof rats climb palms, dense shrubs and trees to reach attics, Norway rats follow drainage channels and burrow along foundations, and mice stay active through mild coastal winters. Effective control means inspecting for every entry, trapping matched to the rodent, sealing gaps and dealing with fleas, which Texas DSHS ties to local typhus cases.

Nearby

• Katy
• Sugar Land
• All of Texas

Questions people ask

Are Formosan termites common in Houston?

Formosan termites were first found in Texas near the Houston Ship Channel in 1956. Texas A&M reports them in 31 Texas counties and all major metropolitan areas. Ask any termite inspector how they check for this species.

When do Formosan termites swarm in Houston?

Texas A&M AgriLife says Formosan swarmers fly at night from early May through June and are drawn to lights. Swarmers found indoors, especially near windows, often point to an active infestation.

Does Harris County spray for mosquitoes?

Yes. Harris County Public Health's Mosquito and Vector Control Division runs surveillance and control countywide, with treatments between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. You can report an issue online or call (713) 440-4800.

Can I ask Harris County to inspect my property for mosquitoes?

Yes. The county has an inspection request form for mosquito breeding sites. Staff may inspect and give source reduction advice. The form is not a request for spraying.

How do I check a Houston exterminator's license?

Houston pest control companies are licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, not the city. Use TDA's Current Licenses page or call the Structural Pest Control Service at (866) 918-4481.

Are roof rats a problem in Houston attics?

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says roof rats are common in east Texas urban communities. They can contaminate stored items and chew wiring in attics. Sealing entry points is the key step.

Sources

• NOAA NCEI: 2023 Local Climatological Data, Houston Intercontinental (KIAH)
• NWS Houston/Galveston: Hurricane Harvey
• NWS Houston/Galveston: County Impacts Associated with Hurricane Beryl (2024)
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension E-367: Formosan Subterranean Termites
• Texas A&M Center for Urban and Structural Entomology: Formosan termites
• Harris County Public Health: Mosquito and Vector Control Division
• KPRC Click2Houston: How to request mosquito help in Houston-area counties (June 2026)
• Texas A&M AgriLife: History of the Red Imported Fire Ant
• AgriLife Today: Spring is the time for Texans to two-step toward fire ant control (2024)
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Rodents in attics
• EPA: Termites, How to Identify and Control Them
• TDA: Structural Pest Control Reports, Current Licenses

Featured providers pay to appear on this guide and are labeled as sponsored. This guide was written by our editorial team from the public sources listed above. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm licensing and terms directly with any provider.