Texas pest season calendar

Texas spans several climates, so timing shifts from South Texas to the Panhandle. These windows come from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

• Subterranean termites

  Peak window: late winter through spring

  Swarming can start in January or February in South Texas and run as late as April or May in the Panhandle, often after rain when the soil stays moist.

  Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

• Fire ants

  Peak window: spring and fall

  Fire ants forage most actively in spring and fall when temperatures sit around 70 to 85 degrees. AgriLife's two-step baiting is timed to those foraging peaks.

  Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Today

• Odorous house ants

  Peak window: warm months, more indoors after rain

  Indoor sightings often follow rain, and outdoor foraging peaks when temperatures are between about 70 and 86 degrees.

  Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

• Carpenter ants

  Peak window: spring

  Carpenter ants swarm in spring as temperatures warm. Large ants active indoors in early spring can point to a nest inside the structure.

  Source: Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Windows are general guidance from the cited university extension and state sources, checked on August 13, 2026. Local weather and microclimate shift them, so treat these as planning ranges rather than exact dates.