Pests to know in McAllen
Termites in McAllen
Texas A&M lists Hidalgo and neighboring Cameron among the Texas counties where invasive Formosan termites have been found, a species that damages wood faster than native subterranean termites.[6]
Invasive species reported here
Citrus greening, a bacterial disease spread by the invasive Asian citrus psyllid, was confirmed in Hidalgo County in 2012, and the county now sits within the Valley quarantine area.[5]
Climate
Central McAllen (ZIP 78501) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, where the average coldest winter night is 30 to 35°F.[10]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Hidalgo County health officials say the Rio Grande Valley's heat and humidity make ideal mosquito breeding conditions, and that fleas, kissing bugs, ticks and rodents can also spread disease locally.[1]
- After a confirmed arboviral case, Hidalgo County's vector team sprays for adult mosquitoes and treats larvae; after heavy rain, county and city crews combine as a Vector Task Force.[1]
- McAllen deploys a Vector Control Team of health specialists and code officers when disease-carrying mosquitoes are found, and partners with Texas A&M and UT Rio Grande Valley on mosquito surveillance.[2]
- Texas DSHS notes the mosquito that carries dengue lives in Texas, and sporadic dengue outbreaks have occurred in extreme South Texas, where McAllen is located.[9]
Local rules and responsibilities
- McAllen code enforcement treats lots or alleys with weeds over 15 inches as a violation, generally allowing 10 days to comply after a certified letter.[3]
- In McAllen, a neglected pool or other stagnant water breeding mosquitoes is a code violation that must be fixed on site when it poses an immediate health hazard.[3]
Hiring a licensed company
Texas requires a Department of Agriculture license for anyone in the pest control business, from one-person outfits to national franchises.[8]
Free local help
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension in Hidalgo County runs horticulture programs on citrus, vegetables and landscape plants for growers and home gardeners, and coordinates the county Master Gardener volunteers.[4]
Through the year
- Spring to Fall
- The state-run Mosquito Round Up surveillance in the Hidalgo County region runs from May through October, with participating cities setting traps monthly for lab identification and virus testing.[1]
- Winter
- Native subterranean termites swarm earliest in South Texas, typically in January and February, months before swarms reach the Texas Panhandle.[7]
Sources
- Hidalgo County Health and Human Services, “Zoonotic Diseases.” www.hchd.org/243/Zoonotic-Diseases (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of McAllen, “Health, Code Enforcement & Animal Care Services.” www.mcallen.net/departments/code (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of McAllen, “Top 10 Code Violations: City of McAllen.” www.mcallen.net/docs/default-source/code/top-10-code-violations-city-of-mcallen.pdf?sfvrsn=2 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Hidalgo County, “Gardening & Landscape Information.” hidalgo.agrilife.org/horticulture/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, “Citrus Greening in Texas.” plantclinic.tamu.edu/citrusgreening (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Urban Entomology, “Formosan Subterranean Termites.” urbanentomology.tamu.edu/urban-pests/termites/formosan/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Urban Entomology, “Native Subterranean Termites.” urbanentomology.tamu.edu/urban-pests/termites/native/ (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)
- Texas Department of State Health Services, “Dengue.” www.dshs.texas.gov/dengue (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 78501 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/78501.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)