Pests to know in Austin
Termites in Austin
Texas A&M lists Travis County among the Texas counties with confirmed Formosan subterranean termite detections. This species attacks more kinds of wood, faster, than native subterranean termites.[4]
Invasive species reported here
Texas A&M AgriLife confirmed invasive crazy ants in northwestern Travis County near the Burnet County line, calling Travis one of the state's most recently invaded areas.[5]
Climate
Central Austin (ZIP 78701) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, where the average coldest winter night is 20 to 25°F.[9]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Austin Public Health's Environmental Vector Control program traps, identifies and tests mosquito pools for viruses such as West Nile, and also responds to rodent reports.[1]
- Austin residents who see standing water, drainage problems or heavy mosquito activity are asked to file a report through Austin 3-1-1.[2]
- The City of Austin takes rodent reports through 3-1-1 and warns that local rodents can spread murine typhus, plague, leptospirosis and rat-bite fever.[3]
Local rules and responsibilities
- Austin city code requires landlords to keep rental properties free of rodent and insect infestations; tenants can contact Development Services Code Compliance.[3]
- The City of Austin notes that code violations such as tall weeds, trash and debris can feed rodent problems, and these can be reported to 3-1-1.[3]
Hiring a licensed company
The Texas Department of Agriculture requires a license for anyone in the pest control business, including lawn and landscape companies that offer weed or insect control.[8]
Free local help
- The Travis County AgriLife Extension office at 1600B Smith Road in Austin runs home horticulture programs, including Master Gardener advice and urban pest management resources.[6]
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension offers insect identification through county Extension offices, and Texans can also send specimens to the Rollins Urban and Structural Entomology building in College Station.[7]
Through the year
Sources
- Austin Public Health, “Environmental Vector Control | Austin Public Health.” www.austintexas.gov/health/programs/environmental-vector-control (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Austin Public Health, “Mosquito | Austin Public Health | AustinTexas.gov.” www.austintexas.gov/page/mosquito (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Austin, “Report a problem with rodents | City of Austin Services | AustinTexas.gov.” www.austintexas.gov/services/report-problem-rodents (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M University Urban and Structural Entomology Program, “Formosan Subterranean Termites Coptotermes formosanus - Urban and Structural Entomology Program at Texas A&M University.” urbanentomology.tamu.edu/urban-pests/termites/formosan/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife, “Crazy ants making tracks through South Central Texas.” today.agrilife.org/2011/12/13/travis-crazy-ants/ (accessed 2026-10-17)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Travis County, “Travis County Horticulture - Urban Programs Travis County.” travis-tx.tamu.edu/horticulture (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension (Insects in the City), “Insect identification help - Insects in the City.” citybugs.tamu.edu/idhelp/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas Department of Agriculture, “Structural Pest Control Consumer Information.” texasagriculture.gov/Regulatory-Programs/Pesticides/Structural-Pest-Control-Service/Structural-Pest-Control-Consumer-Information (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 78701 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/78701.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)