Seasonal guide
West Texas Pest Calendar
Pests in the Permian Basin follow the weather. Heat, the odd hard storm and the first cold front each bring a new set of visitors.
Quick answer
In late winter and spring, watch for termite swarms and the first scorpions. Summer brings the most scorpions, roaches and, after storms, fire ant mounds and mosquitoes. Fall is the time to bait fire ants and seal gaps before mice move inside. Winter is quieter, but mice and German roaches stay active indoors.
Late Winter and Spring (February to May)
Termites. Texas A&M AgriLife says termite swarms in Texas are most common from February to May, often on a warm day after rain. Winged insects or piles of wings by a window mean a colony is close. See our termite guide.
Scorpions. As nights warm up, striped bark scorpions come out of hiding. Check door sweeps and weep holes now, before the busy months. Read more in the scorpion guide.
Fire ants. Mounds start to show again as soil warms. Spring is a good time to plan yard work with bait.
Summer (June to August)
Scorpions are at their peak. They hunt at night and come inside looking for water and cooler spots. A black light at night shows where they are.
Roaches move fast in the heat. Big American roaches show up in garages and drains, while German roaches stay in kitchens and bathrooms all year. See roach control.
Storms. Odessa gets only about 12 inches of rain a year, and May and August tend to be the wettest months. After a hard rain, new fire ant mounds pop up and mosquitoes breed in any water that sits. Dump buckets, tarps, plant saucers and pet bowls within a few days. Read the mosquito guide.
Wasps build nests under eaves and patio covers. See bee and wasp removal.
Fall (September to November)
Fire ant baiting. AgriLife lists late August to mid October as a strong time for fall baiting with the Two Step Method. Bait works best on dry ground with no rain expected for a day or two.
Mice. As nights cool, mice that lived outside look for warm places near food. Seal gaps around pipes, garage doors and vents before the first cold front. See rodent control and our post on mice in walls.
Spiders. Black widows tuck into garages, meter boxes and wood piles. Wear gloves when you reach into dark spots.
Winter (December to January)
Outdoor pests slow down, but some stay busy indoors.
- Mice nest in walls, attics and garages.
- German roaches breed in warm kitchens all year.
- Scorpions may still show up on warm days.
Winter is a good time for an inspection, since pests are easier to trace when fewer are moving outside.
Seasonal Questions
When are scorpions worst in Odessa?
Activity picks up in spring and peaks in the hot summer months. That is when most West Texas families find them inside, often in bathrooms, garages, tubs and closets. Sealing gaps before summer helps the most.
When do termites swarm in Texas?
AgriLife says swarms are most common from February to May, often on a warm, calm day after rain. Swarmers near a window inside the home mean a colony is likely feeding close by, so ask for an inspection.
Why do I see more mice in the fall?
As nights get cooler, mice that lived outside all summer look for warm, dry places near food. Gaps around pipes, garage doors and vents let them in. Sealing those gaps in early fall keeps most of them out.
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Sources
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Subterranean Termites: https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/household/termites/ent-2002/
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Scorpions (E362): https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/E-362-scorpions.pdf
- Texas A&M AgriLife, Two Step Method for fire ants: https://fireant.tamu.edu/controlmethods/twostep/
- EPA, Mosquito Control: https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Managing Rats and Mice: https://mytexas.ag.tamu.edu/publications/managing-rats-and-mice/