Pests to know in Killeen
Termites in Killeen
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension advises homeowners in all areas of Texas to watch for subterranean termites, whose activity is often hidden behind wallboards, siding or trim.[7]
Invasive species reported here
Texas A&M Forest Service lists Bell County among the 40 Texas counties with confirmed emerald ash borer as of June 2026.[6]
Pests local experts flag
Killeen Animal Services does not relocate healthy wildlife such as opossums, but may send an officer if a wild animal gets inside a home or vehicle.[4]
Climate
Central Killeen (ZIP 76541) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, where the average coldest winter night is 15 to 20°F.[10]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Bell County Public Health District runs a mosquito control program with 17 traps placed around the county to collect and monitor local mosquitoes.[1]
- Mosquitoes trapped by Bell County Public Health are sent to the state lab for identification and testing for viruses such as West Nile, Eastern equine encephalitis and Zika.[1]
- Bell County Public Health gives out free mosquito bits and granules at its 4236 Lowes Drive office in Temple while supplies last, limited to one pack of dunks per household.[1]
- Bell County Public Health's environmental health services include vector control: monitoring and managing mosquitoes, rodents and other disease-carrying vectors.[2]
Local rules and responsibilities
- In Killeen, high weeds and grass are a code violation once growth tops 12 inches, and owners and tenants must also maintain adjacent alleys and rights-of-way.[3]
- Killeen Code Enforcement notes that vermin and public health concerns often accompany accumulated litter, trash and debris, which property owners must remove.[3]
Hiring a licensed company
The Texas Department of Agriculture's Structural Pest Control Service investigates complaints about violations of the Structural Pest Control Act, including unlicensed pest control work.[9]
Free local help
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office for Bell County is at 1605 N Main St, Suite 102, in Belton, phone (254) 933-5305.[5]
Through the year
- Spring to Fall
- Texas A&M's Kissing Bug Program says kissing bugs in Texas are most active in summer, from May through September.[8]
Sources
- Bell County Public Health District, “Vector.” www.bellcountyhealth.org/environmental_health/environmental_health_services/vector.php (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Bell County Public Health District, “Environmental Health Services.” www.bellcountyhealth.org/environmental_health/environmental_health_services/index.php (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Killeen, “Code Enforcement.” killeentexas.gov/209/Code-Enforcement (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Killeen, “Animal Services.” killeentexas.gov/233/Animal-Services (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - Bell County, “Bell County.” agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/counties/bell-county/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M Forest Service, “Emerald Ash Borer.” tfsweb.tamu.edu/trees/invasive-species/invasive-insects/emerald-ash-borer/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Center for Urban & Structural Entomology, “Native Subterranean Termites.” urbanentomology.tamu.edu/urban-pests/termites/native/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M University Kissing Bug Program, “Resources - Kissing Bugs & Chagas Disease.” kissingbug.tamu.edu/resources/ (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 76541 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/76541.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)