The Green Country Annual Termite Report for the Houston Area

Houston Is in a “Very Heavy” Termite Zone

National termite risk maps classify the Texas Gulf Coast, including Houston, as a “very heavy” termite infestation probability zone. These are areas where subterranean termite activity is prevalent, often year round, and where preventative protection is strongly recommended rather than optional. [Orkin]

Texas itself ranks among the worst states for termite damage, with the Gulf Coast called out as a particular hotspot due to heat and humidity. [MightyMite Termite]

For Houston homeowners, that means termites are not a rare event. They are a background risk that must be managed continuously.

Key Termite Species Across the Houston Metro

Native subterranean termites

Subterranean termites are the most destructive wood pests in the United States, responsible for more than 2 billion dollars in damage annually. [Williamson] Native subterranean species (Reticulitermes flavipes and related species) are widespread throughout Texas and are established in every major metro, including Houston. [AgriLife Extension Entomology]

They live in the soil, build mud tubes up into structures, and feed on framing, subfloors, trim, and other cellulose materials.

Formosan subterranean termites

Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus) are an invasive, highly aggressive species. They form very large colonies, attack structures faster than native species, and can even damage some non-cellulose materials like thin plastics and soft metals. [AgriLife Extension Entomology]

In Texas, the first Formosan infestations were documented around the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena in the 1950s. Since then, they have spread across at least 30 counties, with detections in all of Texas’s major metropolitan areas. [Urban Entomology Program]

For the Houston metro, this means:

• Higher potential colony sizes
• Faster damage once a structure is infested
• Increased risk around trees, utility poles, and waterfront structures, since Formosans can colonize living and dead trees as well as buildings [AgriLife Extension Entomology]

Drywood termites

Drywood termites are also present in the region. They do not require soil contact and can infest attic timbers, eaves, fascia, and even furniture. Although less common than subterranean termites in Houston, they complicate treatment and inspection strategies. [Liv Texas]

Climate Is Extending Termite Seasons in Houston

Several climate trends are pushing termite pressure higher across the Houston metro:

1. Milder winters
   Termites are limited by sustained cold. Studies note that many species cannot survive long periods below about 9 °C (48 °F), and even fewer survive near freezing. [USFS Research & Development] Houston’s winters rarely reach those thresholds for long, which means colonies can remain active deeper into winter and rebound faster in spring.
2. Rising temperatures and humidity
   Analyses of Texas pest populations point out that warmer average temperatures and higher humidity create more conducive conditions for termites and allow longer active seasons. [natran.com] Regional discussions of climate and pests in Texas report that many “winter” pests are now active almost year round, especially in East and Gulf Coast Texas. [The Bug's End]
3. More intense rain and storm events
   Heavy rain, tropical storms, and hurricanes leave behind saturated soils and debris. For subterranean and Formosan termites, that combination makes it easier to tunnel, start new colonies, and bridge from soil to structures.

Result: Houston’s termite pressure is less of a spring-only problem and more of a 12-month risk pattern with a pronounced peak from late spring through early fall.

How Urban Growth and Housing Patterns Increase Risk

On top of climate, the way the Houston area is built contributes to rising termite pressure:

• High volume of slab-on-grade construction
  Slab foundations with attached patios, steps, or additions create many hidden entry points if expansion joints, plumbing penetrations, or cold joints are not properly treated and sealed.
• Mix of older and newer neighborhoods
  Many older homes were originally treated with soil termiticides that have long since broken down. Without re-treatment or baiting, those homes essentially “age out” of their initial protection, leaving older neighborhoods vulnerable. New construction next to these areas can see spillover pressure as colonies forage outward.
• Water-adjacent development
  Neighborhoods near bayous, drainage channels, retention ponds, and the Gulf Coast (Clear Lake, Baytown, Galveston, League City, Lake Jackson, etc.) experience sustained soil moisture and wood exposure that favor termite activity.
• Tree and landscape pressure
  Formosan termites can colonize living trees and then bridge to roofs, fences, decks, or utility lines. [AgriLife Extension Entomology] Tree-rich subdivisions with mature oaks, pines, and ornamental species should be viewed as high-value inspection zones, not just for aesthetics but for structural risk.

Economic Impact for Houston-Area Homeowners

Nationally, subterranean termites cause more property damage than fire and windstorm combined, and repairs plus control costs exceed 2 billion dollars per year. [Williamson]

Because Texas and the Gulf Coast are among the hardest hit regions, homeowners in the Houston metro shoulder a disproportionate share of that cost. The biggest drivers of avoidable expense are:

• Hidden infestations that go undetected for years
• Lack of preventative treatment on older homes
• DIY or partial treatments that do not target the entire colony, especially with Formosans

In practice, the cost of a comprehensive preventative or baiting program is usually a fraction of what major structural repairs cost once damage is obvious.

Warning Signs Houston Homeowners Commonly Miss

Based on regional patterns and industry data, the following issues are often overlooked:

• Swarmers (winged termites) near porch lights or windows in spring and early summer
• Mud tubes on slab edges, foundation walls, piers, or plumbing penetrations
• Soft or blistering paint, especially near baseboards and door frames
• Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
• Frass (termite droppings) that can resemble sawdust in the case of drywood termites

Many infestations in Texas are first discovered during renovations, when walls or flooring are opened and damage is already extensive.

Practical Recommendations for the Houston Metro

For homeowners in Houston, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, The Woodlands, Spring, Conroe, Baytown, Galveston, Lake Jackson, and surrounding communities, the most practical termite strategy is proactive rather than reactive.

1. Schedule regular professional inspections

• Annual inspections for any home older than 5–10 years
• More frequent checks for properties near water, heavy tree cover, or in known Formosan areas

2. Maintain continuous protection

• For existing homes: liquid soil treatments or baiting systems that encircle the structure and are maintained over time
• For new construction: proper pre-treatment during building, followed by ongoing monitoring rather than a “one and done” mindset

3. Fix moisture and access points

• Grade soil so water drains away from the foundation
• Repair leaks and chronic damp areas under or around the home
• Eliminate wood-to-soil contact (fence posts, deck supports, stored lumber, mulch piled against siding)

4. Treat trees and landscape risk

• Inspect high-value or mature trees for signs of Formosan activity
• Address infested trees properly, since they can act as hidden satellite colonies feeding nearby homes [AgriLife Extension Entomology]

How Green Country Pest Control Is Responding Across Houston

Green Country Pest Control is adapting its termite programs to the specific pressures of the Houston metro:

• Metro-wide termite risk mapping that considers soil type, age of housing, tree density, and proximity to waterways
• Termite monitoring and baiting systems designed for Gulf Coast conditions, including areas with periodic flooding
• Integrated inspection of both structures and surrounding trees or landscape features in high-risk zones
• Education for homeowners on recognizing swarmers, mud tubes, and other early warning signs, so small clues do not get ignored

This report will be updated periodically as new data on termite distribution, climate trends, and building practices becomes available.