Austin Pest Control

Austin Ant Control

Fire ants are the number one ant problem in Austin. They build mounds across yards, garden beds, and right up against foundations in neighborhoods like Allandale, Zilker, and Rosedale. A single colony can contain hundreds of thousands of workers.

Carpenter ants show up in older homes with moisture-damaged wood and can hollow out structural timbers over time. Rover ants and crazy ants push indoors through the smallest cracks in newer construction.

Our ant extermination starts with species identification because each type responds to different treatments. We follow the Texas A&M AgriLife two-step fire ant control method for yard-wide infestations – broadcast bait first, then targeted mound treatments where needed.

• Species ID and full property inspection to locate colonies, mounds, and entry points
• Targeted baiting systems that reach the queen and collapse the colony
• Perimeter treatment around the foundation to block re-entry
• Interior crack-and-crevice applications where ant trails are active

Ongoing monitoring through your service agreement keeps colonies from rebuilding between visits.

Austin Cockroach Control

German cockroaches and American cockroaches are the two species we treat most in Austin homes.

German roaches breed fast and stay indoors – kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere food or moisture collects. American roaches come in from storm drains and sewer systems through plumbing gaps and weep holes, especially in neighborhoods like East Cesar Chavez, Bouldin Creek, and South Congress where older plumbing is common.

Roach droppings and shed skin release proteins that trigger asthma and allergies, especially in children. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America identifies cockroach allergens as one of the most common indoor asthma triggers.

Our cockroach control starts with species identification and a full inspection. Treatment includes:

• Gel bait placed in cracks, crevices, and cabinet voids where roaches hide
• Dust applications in wall voids, under sinks, and around plumbing penetrations
• Insect growth regulators to break the breeding cycle

German roach infestations need a follow-up at 10-14 days to catch nymphs hatching from surviving egg cases.

Austin Rodent Control

Roof rats and house mice are both active across Austin. The problem spikes in fall when cooler temperatures push rodents toward warm attic spaces and wall voids.

Roof rats are strong climbers that use tree branches, power lines, and fence tops to reach your roofline. Homes near mature oak canopy in Barton Hills, Northwest Hills, and Tarrytown see heavy rat activity. A mouse only needs a gap the size of a dime to get inside.

Both species chew electrical wiring, contaminate stored food, and carry disease. The EPA guide to rats and mice notes that rodents spread disease both directly through droppings and urine and indirectly through fleas and ticks they carry.

Our rodent control combines interior trapping with exterior exclusion:

• Full inspection of the attic, crawl space, garage, and exterior to locate entry points
• Interior trapping to remove active rodents
• Exterior exclusion – sealing gaps around rooflines, utility penetrations, and foundation vents
• Sanitation recommendations to remove food and water sources

Austin Mosquito Control

Mosquito season in Austin runs roughly from March through November. Peak breeding happens after spring and early summer rains when standing water collects in gutters, plant saucers, and low spots across the yard.

Properties near drainage easements in areas like Onion Creek, Barton Hills, and South River City tend to see the heaviest pressure. Even a bottle cap of standing water is enough to support a breeding cycle.

Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance. The CDC’s page on mosquito-borne disease prevention covers West Nile virus, dengue, and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes active in Texas.

Our mosquito control treatments use a two-prong approach:

• Barrier spray applied to vegetation, fence lines, and shaded resting areas where adults hide
• Larvicide treatment in standing water features and drainage areas to stop breeding
• Property walkthrough to identify and recommend elimination of breeding sites
• Monthly treatments during peak season for consistent insect control

Pet-safe and botanical product options are available on request.

Austin Bed Bug Control

Bed bugs don’t care how clean your home is. They travel in luggage, used furniture, and clothing. Austin’s mix of short-term rentals, college housing near West Campus, and frequent travel makes infestations common across the city.

You’ll usually notice bites first – small, itchy welts in clusters or lines on exposed skin. Other signs include rust-colored spots on sheets and a sweet, musty odor near the bed. The CDC’s page on bed bug identification and signs of infestation notes that while bed bugs don’t spread diseases, they cause itching, sleep loss, and in some people allergic reactions.

Our bed bug extermination includes:

• Detailed inspection of mattresses, box springs, headboards, and baseboards
• Targeted chemical application to cracks, seams, and hiding spots
• Follow-up inspection at 10-14 days to verify elimination
• Preparation guidance for homeowners before pest treatment begins

Our guarantee includes a free re-service if activity returns between scheduled visits. Contact Austin Pest Control to schedule a free bed bug inspection.

Austin Termite Control

Subterranean termites are the primary termite threat in Austin. They build colonies underground and reach your home through mud tubes along foundation walls, plumbing penetrations, and anywhere wood contacts soil.

Pier-and-beam homes common in older neighborhoods like Old West Austin, Clarksville, and Hancock are especially vulnerable. Slab construction is not immune – termites exploit expansion joints and utility entry points. The subterranean termite identification and control guide from Texas A&M AgriLife covers the damage signs homeowners should watch for.

Austin Pest Control holds full Termite category licensing under TPCL #667951 and provides:

• Free termite inspection covering foundation, crawl space, and accessible wood structures
• Subterranean termite treatment using liquid barrier or bait station systems
• Wood Destroying Insect Reports (WDIR) for home sales and refinancing
• Annual termite inspections under ongoing service agreements, not contracts

Visit the Stride Pest Control homepage for information on additional Central Texas locations offering the same termite protection.

Austin Spider Control

Most spiders you’ll find in your Austin home – wolf spiders, garden spiders, cellar spiders – are harmless. The two that matter are black widows and brown recluses.

Brown recluses hide in storage boxes, closets, and undisturbed spaces. The brown recluse spider identification page from the Texas A&M Field Guide covers the violin-shaped marking and six-eye pattern that distinguish them from lookalikes. Black widows tend to stay in garages, woodpiles, and exterior eaves.

Spider populations follow their food source. Heavy spider activity usually points to an underlying bug control problem – reduce the insects and you reduce the spiders.

Our Austin spider extermination includes:

• Web removal from eaves, porches, garages, and interior corners
• Crack-and-crevice treatment in hiding spots where spiders rest
• Perimeter application to reduce insect prey around the home
• Ongoing residential pest control to keep populations low between visits

Our full range of pest control services addresses the underlying insect pressure that draws spiders inside.

Austin Scorpion Control

Striped bark scorpions are the most common species in Central Texas. They’re active at night and squeeze through gaps as narrow as a credit card – under doors, around window frames, and through weep holes. The Texas A&M Field Guide to Texas scorpions confirms the striped bark scorpion as the most widespread species in the state.

Properties on limestone in western Austin neighborhoods like Oak Hill and Spyglass-Barton’s Bluff see more activity. Our Austin exterminator team targets both the scorpions and the crickets and roaches they feed on.

• Exterior perimeter treatment focused on entry points and foundation gaps
• Interior application in bathrooms, closets, and along baseboards
• Year-round pest management to reduce the prey insects scorpions hunt

Austin Flea, Tick, and Chigger Control

Fleas, ticks, and chiggers follow pets and wildlife into your yard and eventually into your home. Flea infestations start when pets pick up fleas outside, and eggs spread quickly to carpets and furniture. The CDC overview of flea-borne diseases notes that most U.S. murine typhus cases occur in Texas.

Ticks hide in tall grass and wooded edges near properties in areas like Zilker and Circle C Ranch. Chiggers thrive in shaded, overgrown turf during warm months.

• Yard treatment targeting flea larvae, ticks, and chiggers in shaded turf and leaf litter
• Interior treatment of carpets and pet areas for active flea infestations
• Follow-up treatment to break the flea life cycle as eggs hatch