Pest Control in Helotes, TX
Pest Trappers provides general pest control inside and outside Helotes homes and businesses: ants, cockroaches, spiders, scorpions, rodents, termites, bed bugs and nuisance wildlife, plus fleas, ticks, crickets, silverfish and mosquitoes. Each job starts with an inspection to identify the pest and how it's getting in, and you get a price only after that. To set one up, call or text (210) 281-1064 or book online; the office will confirm the time, and se habla español.
What are you seeing? A quick guide #
| What you notice | Likely pest | First step | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mounds after rain; ants that swarm up your shoe | Fire ants | Bait the yard, don't drench | fire ant guide |
| Large ants indoors at night, winged ants in spring | Carpenter ants | Get them identified | carpenter ants |
| Small striped roaches in the kitchen | German cockroaches | Bait, not bug bombs | cockroaches |
| Webs in garage corners, spiders in stored boxes | Spiders | Clear clutter, seal boxes | spiders |
| Tan scorpion with dark stripes on a wall at night | Striped bark scorpion | Seal gaps, clear rock and wood | scorpions |
| Droppings, gnawing, scratching at night | Mice or rats | Seal holes, trap | rodents |
| Winged swarmers, mud tubes on the slab | Termites | Inspection before any repair | termites |
| Itchy bites in rows, rusty spots on sheets | Bed bugs | Call early | bed bugs |
| Torn shingles, chirping in the chimney, an animal under the deck | Raccoon, opossum or skunk | Don't seal or trap yet | wildlife |
Ants: identify before you treat #
Treatment depends on the species, so identification comes first. Fire ants are a yard problem handled with bait around the home; our Helotes fire ant page covers timing and why treatment stays targeted near local caves. Odorous house ants go for sweet baits and ignore oily fire ant baits. Texas carpenter ants usually nest in existing voids such as hollow doors and insulation rather than solid wood, and AgriLife says off-the-shelf bait stations and dusts generally fail against them.
Cockroaches: why sprays and foggers disappoint #
Texas A&M says the German cockroach doesn't live outdoors in Texas. A small, light-brown roach with two dark stripes behind its head means a breeding population inside, usually in the kitchen or bathroom. Texas A&M counts baits placed in cracks among the most effective tools; sprays tend to scatter roaches, and bug bombs never reach their hiding spots. The big American roach is different: it often comes up through drains.
Spiders and scorpions #
DSHS says brown recluses and black widows live indoors and out across Texas, and they're the only spiders here of medical concern. Recluses bite when pressed against skin, so shake out stored clothes and shoes and keep boxes in sealed bins. Striped bark scorpions climb into attics and slip under doors; see scorpion control in Helotes for sealing tips.
Rodents and the fleas they carry #
A mouse can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime, a rat through one the size of a quarter, according to Texas A&M. DSHS names Bexar County among the newer areas where flea-borne typhus is established, and its advice is to treat for fleas before starting rodent control. When cleaning up droppings, CDC says not to sweep or vacuum: air the room out, wear gloves and soak the mess with a bleach solution first. See also fleas and ticks.
Termites #
Texas A&M's urban entomology center lists Bexar County among the Texas counties with Formosan termites, alongside the native subterranean termites found statewide. Native swarms begin in South Texas in January and February. Swarmers indoors or mud tubes on the foundation call for an inspection, and TDA advises against repairing or treating damage before the inspector sees it. Pest Trappers holds the TDA termite category for termite inspection and treatment.
Bed bugs #
Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed, can't fly or jump, and travel in luggage, secondhand furniture and moving boxes. They aren't a sign of a dirty home. AgriLife says a homeowner rarely gets rid of them alone and that several visits are typical, so call early.
Raccoons, opossums and skunks #
We remove and exclude these animals following Texas Parks and Wildlife and DSHS rabies rules. Don't seal an opening an animal is still using, or you may trap young inside. Under the state rabies quarantine, residents may not transport a live raccoon, skunk or fox, and DSHS has reported a fox rabies outbreak centered in southern Hays and northern Bexar counties. Report any bite or scratch to Helotes Animal Control and see a doctor.
How a Helotes service visit works #
A technician inspects inside and out, identifies the pest, and finds the entry points and conditions that support it. You'll hear the options, with sealing and sanitation steps alongside any treatment, and every product is used exactly as its label directs. You approve the price after the inspection. The work is done by Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549), a family-owned company licensed by the Texas Department of Agriculture for general pest and termite control, serving residential and commercial customers.
We don't do lawn, tree or shrub care, and we don't tent-fumigate; drywood termite fumigation is done by separately licensed fumigation companies. For wasps, bees and other stingers, and the local conditions that shape them, see the Helotes town page.