Pest Library · West Texas
Termites in West Texas
Dry country does not keep termites away. They live in the soil under Basin homes and follow water to the wood. Here is how to spot them early.
Quick answer
Most termites in Texas are native subterranean termites. Workers are small, soft and cream colored. Swarmers are dark brown to black with four wings of equal length. The signs to watch for are mud tubes on the foundation, spring swarms near windows and wood that sounds hollow when you tap or probe it.
What Do Termites Look Like?
You will likely see one of two forms.
Workers. These do the damage. They are small, pale and soft, a little like a grain of rice with legs. They avoid light and stay hidden in soil, mud tubes and wood, so most people never see them.
Swarmers. These are the winged adults that leave the colony to start new ones. Texas A&M AgriLife describes them as dark brown to black and about ⅜ inch long. In Texas, swarms are most common from February to May, often on a warm day after rain.
Termite or Flying Ant?
Many people mix these up. The EPA gives three quick checks:
- Waist. Termites have a thick, straight waist. Ants have a pinched waist.
- Wings. Termite wings are all about the same length. Ant front wings are longer than the back wings.
- Antennae. Termite antennae are straight. Ant antennae bend at a sharp elbow.
If you find a pile of wings on a windowsill, save some in a bag for your technician.
How Subterranean Termites Live
Subterranean termites live in colonies in the soil. Workers tunnel out to find wood, then build mud tubes to reach it. The tubes keep them damp and out of the open air. They eat wood from the inside, so damage often hides behind drywall, trim and baseboards.
In the Permian Basin, water is what draws them to a home. Leaky pipes, sprinklers that hit the slab, AC drip lines and flower beds against the wall all keep soil damp. Odessa only gets about 12 inches of rain a year, so these damp spots matter even more.
AgriLife notes the Formosan termite is mostly a Gulf Coast problem. Most West Texas homes deal with native kinds.
Signs of Termites
Check these spots a few times a year:
- Mud tubes. Pencil wide dirt tunnels on the foundation, piers, walls or pipes.
- Swarms. Winged insects or piles of shed wings near windows and doors in spring.
- Damaged wood. The EPA suggests probing exposed wood with a flathead screwdriver to find hollow spots.
- Bubbling paint or soft trim. These can mean termites are working behind the surface.
Termite swarmers inside the house are a strong sign the colony is close. If you break open a mud tube, leave the rest in place so your technician can see it.
How Risky Are They?
Termites don't bite people or spread disease. The risk is to your house. AgriLife says termites cost Texans hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Because they stay hidden, many homeowners only find out during a remodel or a home sale.
Prevention Tips
The EPA lists simple ways to make a home less inviting:
- Keep soil next to the foundation dry with good drainage and working gutters.
- Fix leaks and move sprinklers so they don't spray the slab.
- Don't stack firewood or scrap wood against the house.
- Keep shrubs from growing against exposed wood.
For treatment choices like liquid barriers and bait stations, see termite control. Buying or selling? See the real estate termite inspection page.
Termite FAQs
Do termites really live in dry West Texas?
Yes. The native kinds are found all over the state, Basin included. They don't need a wet climate, only damp soil and wood. Leaky pipes, sprinklers and AC lines near the slab give them that, even in a town that gets about 12 inches of rain a year.
When do termites swarm in Texas?
AgriLife says swarms in Texas are most common from February to May. They often happen on a warm, calm day after rain. If you see winged insects near windows in spring, save a few in a bag and compare them to ants, or have a technician check.
Are termite swarmers dangerous?
No. Swarmers don't bite or sting, and they die soon after leaving the colony. The real concern is what they tell you. A swarm inside the house usually means a colony is feeding nearby, maybe in the walls or under the slab.
How long does termite treatment last?
AgriLife tests found that registered liquid termite treatments last about four to ten years in the soil. Bait stations protect the home only as long as they are checked and kept up. Your technician will explain which option fits your home.
Same Day Service Available
Get a Termite Check
Found mud tubes or wings on the sill? Request a free termite inspection. Your technician will check the slab, the plumbing and the wood.
Odessa Pest Control connects you with a local pest control technician. Ask for their Texas license number before work starts.
Pest Library
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German Cockroaches
The small striped roach that lives in kitchens, how fast it breeds and how to stop it.
Bed Bugs
How to identify bed bugs, read the signs on your sheets and stop them spreading.
Fire Ants
How to spot fire ant mounds, what the stings do and why bait beats mound spraying.
House Mice
How to read droppings and gnaw marks, and how a dime size gap lets mice in.
Black Widow Spiders
The red hourglass, where widows hide in Basin yards and what to do after a bite.
Mosquitoes
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Sources
- EPA, Termites: How to Identify and Control Them: https://www.epa.gov/controlling-pests/termites-how-identify-and-control-them
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Subterranean Termites: https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/household/termites/ent-2002/