The first real cold front of the year blows through. You open the windows for the first time since May. That same drop in temperature sends pests looking for a warm, dry place to wait out winter. Your house is the closest one.
Up north, a hard freeze kills off many insects. Here, winters are short and mild. Pests do not die off. They move inside and keep going until spring.
This guide covers the fall pest prevention South Texas homeowners can finish in a weekend. It also covers which pests to watch from October through February, and when a problem needs more than a caulk gun.
Why pests move in when it cools off
Pests come inside for shelter and water. Fall just raises the stakes.
Cool nights push rodents toward attics, walls, and garages. Scorpions and roaches follow the warm air that leaks out under doors. Scorpions can feel that temperature change under a door. Then they squeeze in through the gap.
Fall rain adds to it. Puddles hang around longer on cool days. Wet leaves and mulch next to the slab give roaches and silverfish a damp place to live right beside your walls.
The pests to watch from October to February
Mice and rats
Rodents are the biggest winter worry. AgriLife Extension says a rodent needs only a 1/4-inch gap, about the size of a dime, to start getting in. Listen for scratching in the attic or walls at night. Look for droppings in drawers, under sinks, and along garage walls. Our rodent control page explains how we handle them.
Cockroaches
Roaches that lived in the yard all summer head for kitchens and bathrooms when it cools off. One roach out in daylight often means many more are hiding. Learn more on our roach control page.
Scorpions
Texas has 18 kinds of scorpions. The striped bark scorpion is the one Texans see most. Its sting hurts. Scorpions hunt at night and slip in under doors and through gaps around pipes. Our scorpion control page covers how we treat them.
Fire ants
Fire ant mounds can seem to vanish during dry spells. AgriLife experts note they come back fast after rain. After a wet fall week, check the lawn and beds for new mounds. Our fire ant treatment can give up to one year of control in your yard after correct application.
Silverfish and spiders
Silverfish love damp bathrooms and cardboard boxes. Spiders follow the other bugs inside, because that is what they eat. Our silverfish control guide shows the signs to look for.
Mosquitoes
A warm fall keeps mosquitoes biting well past Halloween. They breed in standing water, and fall rain leaves plenty of it. Tip out flower pot saucers, birdbaths, kids’ toys, and clogged gutters after each storm. It only takes a small puddle. Our guide to controlling mosquitoes has more yard tips.
Drywood termites
Most termites here swarm in spring. Drywood termites keep their own calendar and tend to swarm in late summer and fall. Winged bugs or piles of tiny wings on a windowsill this time of year are worth a call. Compare your termite treatment options before damage spreads.
Fall pest prevention: South Texas homes start on the outside
The best time to stop a pest is before it gets in. Walk around your house on a bright afternoon with a flashlight. Look low and high.
- Doors. Close the door and look for daylight at the bottom. If you see any, add a door sweep. Check the garage door seal too.
- Windows and screens. Replace worn weatherstripping and patch torn screens.
- Pipes, wires, and AC lines. Caulk gaps where they enter the house. Pack bigger holes with steel wool first, then seal over it. Steel wool holds up to chewing better than foam.
- Vents. Cover attic, foundation, and dryer vents with metal mesh. Air still flows, and pests stay out.
- Roofline. Trim branches so they do not touch the roof. Rats and squirrels use them as bridges.
- Gutters. Clear out wet leaves. Point downspouts away from the slab.
- Mulch and leaves. Rake leaves away from the foundation. Keep mulch two inches below the slab edge.
- Firewood. Stack it at least 20 feet from the house and off the ground. Bring in only what you will burn that day.
- Pet food and trash. Bring pet bowls in at night. Keep tight lids on trash cans.
The best fall pest prevention South Texas families can do costs very little. A tube of caulk and a door sweep close most of the easy ways in.
Inside the house: take away food and hiding spots
Sealing gaps keeps most pests out. Inside, the goal is to give the rest nothing to eat and nowhere to hide.
- Move flour, cereal, rice, and pet food into sealed containers.
- Wipe up crumbs and take out the kitchen trash every night.
- Fix drips under sinks and around the water heater.
- Run a dehumidifier in damp rooms. Keep humidity below 50 percent.
- Clear clutter from the garage floor, closets, and under beds.
Check the holiday boxes
November and December bring decorations down from the attic and in from the garage. Those boxes sat in the dark for a year. Open them outside first. Look for droppings, chewed paper, and shed skins. Then move the decorations into plastic bins with lids before they go back.
A simple timeline from September to February
Want the full year? Our seasonal pest control tips cover spring and summer too. For the cool months, here is the order that works.
Late September and October
Do the outdoor walk-around. Seal gaps, add door sweeps, and screen vents. Clean gutters after the first leaves drop. This is also a good time to book a fall service, before pests settle in for the season.
November and December
Check the attic and garage for droppings and chewed boxes. Move firewood away from the house. Watch for new fire ant mounds after rain.
January and February
Check door sweeps and weatherstripping after cold snaps. Keep an eye on bathrooms and closets for silverfish and roaches. Termite swarms start in February, so read our guide to termite swarm season in Texas before spring.
Signs you need a pest control pro
Home steps handle a lot. Call for help if you notice any of these:
- Scratching in the walls or attic at night
- Fresh droppings after you have cleaned
- Roaches out in daylight
- More than one scorpion inside in a week
- Winged bugs or shed wings near windows
A Bugmobiles tech checks the outside and inside of your home. The tech finds how pests are getting in and builds a plan around it. You can pick a one-time service with a 30-day guarantee or a one-year service package. Our residential pest control page lays out what we cover. Getting ready for a visit? Use our pest control prep checklist.
Get ahead of winter pests with Bugmobiles
Fall pest prevention in South Texas comes down to timing. Seal the house before the first cold fronts, and most pests stay outside where they belong.
Bugmobiles is family-owned and has protected South Texas homes since 1954. We hold a 4.9-star Google rating across more than 1,300 reviews. Call and a real person answers. A tech calls you back within a day, and the inspection is free.
Call (361) 575-6401 or schedule service online. Find your nearest office on our service areas page.