Termite Control Services in the Rio Grande Valley

Termites are active year-round in the Rio Grande Valley. The warm climate, high humidity, and sandy soil conditions in South Texas create near-ideal conditions for subterranean termites — the most destructive species in North America. They don’t wait for a season to change, and they don’t slow down.

The damage they cause is often invisible until it’s already significant. Termites feed from the inside out, hollowing out structural wood while leaving the outer surface intact. By the time you see visible damage, bubbling paint, hollow-sounding wood, or mud tubes along your foundation, the colony may have been active for months or longer.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage across the country each year — more than fires and storms combined in many regions. In the Rio Grande Valley specifically, subterranean termites are a year-round threat that no property owner should ignore.

Signs You May Have Termites

You don’t always see termites directly. Here’s what to look for:

• Mud tubes running along your foundation, walls, or crawl space — these are the highways subterranean termites build to travel between the soil and your home
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• Paint that bubbles or peels without an obvious moisture source
• Small piles of wings near windows or doors — discarded by swarmers after they land
• Frass (tiny wood-colored droppings) near baseboards or window stills, which indicates drywood termites
• Visible swarms in spring, which signal a mature, well-established colony nearby

If you’ve noticed any of these, don’t wait. Call us for a free inspection! The earlier we catch it, the less damage there is to deal with.

Types of Termites We Treat

Subterranean Termites
The most common and destructive termites in Texas. They live in underground colonies — sometimes as deep as 20 feet — and can include several million individual termites. They travel through mud tubes and enter structures through soil contact, cracks in slabs, and plumbing penetrations. Subterranean termites are native to every US state except Alaska.

Drywood Termites
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites don’t need soil contact. They infest dry wood directly — furniture, framing, flooring, and structural timbers. They’re harder to detect because they leave fewer visible signs and don’t build mud tubes.

Each type requires a different treatment approach. That’s why an inspection comes first — every time.

Our Termite Treatment Process

Step 1 — Inspection
A licensed termite inspector walks the full interior and exterior of the structure. We look for mud tubes, damaged wood, moisture problems, entry points, and active termite activity. We measure the structure and identify treatment zones. At the end of the inspection, we give you a straight assessment of what we found and what your options are.

Step 2 — Treatment Recommendation
There is no single “best” termite treatment for every property. The right approach depends on your foundation type, soil conditions, the severity of the infestation, and accessibility around the structure. We explain the options clearly and recommend what we believe is the most effective solution for your specific situation.

Step 3 — Soil Treatment (Most Common for Subterranean Termites)
For slab and crawl space homes, the most effective treatment is a non-repellant liquid termiticide applied to the soil around and beneath the structure.

We use proven products including:

• Termidor HE and Termidor SC — fipronil-based termiticides considered among the most effective available. Termites unknowingly transfer the active ingredient back through the colony, eliminating it at the source rather than blocking it.
• Taurus SC — another fipronil-based option with proven long-term performance.

Slab Foundation Treatment — We dig a trench along the foundation, inject termiticide into the soil, drill through concrete where necessary (garage, patio, porches, sidewalks adjacent to the structure), and inject beneath the slab near plumbing penetrations and foundation walls.

Crawl Space Treatment — We trench and treat soil around and inside the crawl space, address excessive moisture if present, and treat damaged wood directly where needed.

Bait Systems (Alternative or Supplemental)
We also install bait stations such as Sentricon and Trelona ATBS around the perimeter of the home. These are monitored periodically and are an excellent option for colony elimination with minimal chemical use. They work more slowly than liquid treatment but are highly effective — particularly as an additional layer of protection after a full liquid treatment.

Step 4 — Drywood Termite Treatment
Drywood termite infestations are treated differently. Common methods include:

• Bora-Care — a borate-based product applied directly to wood that penetrates the wood itself, killing termites inside and protecting against future infestations
• Tim-Bor — another borate treatment effective for both prevention and active infestations

We also provide pre-treatment of soil for new construction and pre-treatment for termites before slabs are poured — protecting the structure before it’s even built.

WDI Reports for Real Estate Transactions

If you are buying or selling a property in Texas, your lender or real estate agent may require a Wood Destroying Insect (WDI) report — sometimes called a termite letter. This is a formal inspection document that identifies any evidence of wood-destroying insect activity and is required in most mortgage transactions.

Del Valle Pest Control is licensed to perform WDI inspections and issue official reports. Pricing is based on the square footage of the property, its location, and other factors. Call us for a quote — we can often schedule quickly to meet your closing timeline.

Termite Warranties

We stand behind our work. Our termite treatments include:

• 1 year warranty included with treatment, with the option to extend coverage up to 15 years
• If termites reappear in treated areas during the warranty period, we return and retreat at no additional charge
• Warranties are renewable annually

Before your service, ask us about:

• Whether structural repair coverage is included
• Transferability to a new owner if you sell the property

If your home or business has already sustained termite damage, we can also provide a repair quote alongside the treatment — so you’re not managing two separate contractors.

What To Expect After Termite Treatment

The first few weeks — You may still see some termite activity. Existing mud tubes may remain visible. Termites do not die instantly, especially with liquid treatment that rely on colony transfer.
1-3 months — Activity should decline significantly. Depending on the treatment type and colony size, full colony elimination may occur during this period.
Long-term — Annual inspections are recommended to catch any new activity early. We also advise correcting moisture issues, minimizing wood-to-soil contact around the structure, and keeping mulch away from the foundation, all of which reduce the conditions termites favor.

Termite Inspection Checklist: What We Pay Special Attention To

On slab homes:

• Expansion joints
• Plumbing penetrations
• Cracks in the slab
• Attached patios, garages, and porches

On crawl space homes:

• Moisture levels and ventilation
• Leaking pipes
• Wood debris under the structure
• Soil-to-wood contact

Free Termite Inspections

We offer free termite inspections for homeowners and businesses throughout the Rio Grande Valley and across Texas. If you suspect termite activity, or if you just want peace of mind, call us and we’ll take a look.
The exception is WDI reports for real estate transactions, which are priced based on square footage and property details. Call us for a quote.

Serving the Rio Grande Valley and All of Texas

We perform termite inspections and treatments throughout the Rio Grande Valley — including McAllen, Edinburg, Mission, Pharr, Weslaco, Harlingen, Brownsville, and surrounding communities. We also service properties across Texas, including Laredo, Corpus Christi, Zapata, Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and South Padre Island.