Pests and pest control in Waco, TX

Pests to know in Waco

• Mosquito
• Emerald Ash Borer
• Subterranean termites

Why each one matters here is cited in the sections below.

Termites in Waco

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension calls termites perhaps the most important wood-destroying pests for Texas homeowners, with the eastern subterranean termite the species most commonly encountered.^[6]

Invasive species reported here

Texas A&M Forest Service lists McLennan County among the 40 Texas counties with confirmed emerald ash borer as of June 2026.^[5]

Pests local experts flag

• According to the Waco-McLennan health district, a female mosquito can lay up to 200 eggs at once, and an egg becomes a flying mosquito in 7 to 14 days.^[1]
• Waco Animal Control does not remove wildlife for nuisance reasons; it responds to wildlife that is severely sick, injured, a rabies risk, or an immediate threat to human safety.^[3]

Climate

Central Waco (ZIP 76701) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, where the average coldest winter night is 15 to 20°F.^[9]

Public agencies that handle pests

• Waco-McLennan County Public Health District asks residents who see stagnant water lasting a week or more to report it to the district at (254) 750-5464.^[1]
• The Waco-McLennan health district advises emptying water from flowerpots, pet dishes, birdbaths, pool covers, buckets, barrels and cans at least once or twice a week.^[1]
• The Waco-McLennan health district warns that rats cause substantial property damage and may spread diseases including murine typhus, plague, leptospirosis and rat-bite fever.^[1]

Local rules and responsibilities

• Under City of Waco ordinances, grass or weeds taller than 12 inches are out of compliance.^[2]
• Waco code compliance notes that overgrown weeds and grass can be a fire hazard and a breeding place for mosquitoes and rodents.^[2]

Hiring a licensed company

The Texas Department of Agriculture requires a license for anyone in the pest control business, from single-person operations to large nationwide franchises.^[8]

Licensing agency: Texas Department of Agriculture — Pesticide Programs^[10].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Free local help

The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office for McLennan County is at 4224 Cobbs Drive in Waco and can be reached at (254) 757-5180.^[4]

Through the year

Spring

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension says subterranean termite swarmers in Texas usually appear from March through April, and eastern subterranean termite swarms typically fly in daylight.^[7]

Sources

1. Waco-McLennan County Public Health District, “General Sanitation Factors.” www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Health-District/Environmental-Health/General-Sanitation (accessed 2026-10-06)
2. City of Waco, “Code Compliance.” www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Code-Redirect (accessed 2026-10-06)
3. City of Waco Animal Services, “Wildlife Services.” www.waco-texas.com/Departments/Animal-Services/Animal-Control/Wildlife-Services (accessed 2026-10-06)
4. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service - McLennan County, “McLennan County.” agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/counties/mclennan-county/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
5. Texas A&M Forest Service, “Emerald Ash Borer.” tfsweb.tamu.edu/trees/invasive-species/invasive-insects/emerald-ash-borer/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
6. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, “Termites.” citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/household/termites/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
7. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, “What is a termite?.” citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/household/termites/ent-6002/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
8. 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)
9. USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 76701 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/76701.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
10. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)