Dealing with pests in Levelland, TX?
What makes pest control on the flat South Plains different from other parts of West Texas? In Levelland, it starts with what's not a major problem: Hockley County isn't on the state's confirmed widespread fire ant infestation list, so rodents, crickets, and the spiders that hunt them take priority instead. The cotton farmland that surrounds town, a crop that grew from under 100 acres in 1920 to nearly 100,000 within a decade, gives mice plenty of outdoor cover through the growing season before cold, windy High Plains winters push them toward the nearest shelter. Termites are present too, though at reduced pressure given the dry climate. A century of cotton farming history has shaped this pest calendar as much as the region's dry High Plains weather has, and that farmland connection is worth asking about when scoping any Levelland property.
Which pests are most common in Levelland?
Levelland was surveyed in 1912 by Charles W. Post as 'Hockley City' and renamed for its flat topography once county organization began in 1921. Cotton farming took off quickly, with acreage growing from just 87 acres in 1920 to more than 95,000 acres by 1929, and oil production added a second industry after 1937 discoveries in the area.
- Rodents. Fall through winter. Levelland's surrounding cotton farmland gives mice cover through the growing season, and the flat, cold South Plains winters push them toward town once fields are harvested.
- Crickets. Fall. Fall cricket invasions are especially noticeable on the flat High Plains terrain around Levelland, with large numbers gathering at lit entryways.
- Spiders. Warm months, more visible in fall. Spiders follow the cricket population indoors as a food source, making the two pests closely linked in Levelland homes each fall.
- Termites. Spring swarms, lower pressure than humid Texas. Subterranean termite pressure is reduced by the dry High Plains climate but still worth checking in Levelland's older agricultural-era homes near South Plains College.
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Or call 1-800-PEST-USAWhat else should Levelland homeowners know?
Levelland's flat, open High Plains terrain produces especially large fall cricket populations, and spiders follow that food source directly into homes. A property with heavy cricket activity at its doors and windows is very likely to also see more spider activity indoors, since the spiders are simply going where the food is. Addressing cricket entry points tends to reduce both problems at once rather than requiring two separate approaches.
Cotton acreage around Levelland exploded from just 87 acres in 1920 to more than 95,000 by 1929, and that agricultural land still surrounds much of the town today. Mice use the crop cover for shelter and food through spring and summer, then move toward town once the fields are harvested and the cold, windy South Plains winter sets in, a seasonal pattern that's been part of Levelland's pest calendar for about a century.
The campus and its surrounding student housing add a modest layer of multifamily and rental property to Levelland's otherwise agricultural-town housing mix, similar to what a larger college town would see on a bigger scale. Rental turnover near the campus can delay small maintenance fixes like sealing door gaps, giving rodents and crickets a bit more opportunity there than in an owner-occupied home elsewhere in town, though the difference is modest given Levelland's overall small size.
How do you keep them out?
- →Seal door thresholds and window gaps before fall to reduce combined cricket and spider entry.
- →Schedule rodent exclusion work ahead of the cotton harvest, when mice begin moving toward town.
- →Check older agricultural-era homes near South Plains College for termite activity every year or two.
- →Reduce exterior lighting near entry points where practical, since bright lights draw crickets and, in turn, spiders.
- →Store harvested crop residue and yard debris away from home foundations.
How much does pest control cost in Levelland?
Combined cricket and spider exclusion work in Levelland typically runs $100 to $250. Rodent exclusion timed to harvest season is often priced as a seasonal service. Free inspection included.
Why do spiders show up in my Levelland home right after crickets do?
Spiders are following their food source. Levelland's flat South Plains terrain produces large fall cricket populations, and spiders move indoors to hunt them. Sealing the same door and window gaps that let crickets in usually reduces spider activity as well.
Does Levelland have the fire ant problems that other West Texas towns do?
No. Hockley County is not on the Texas Department of Agriculture's list of counties with widespread fire ant infestation, unlike Nolan, Scurry, and Wilbarger counties further south and east. That's a genuine regional difference, not just a matter of degree.
When is the best time to schedule rodent control around the cotton harvest?
Just before harvest is ideal. Mice use the standing cotton crop for cover through the growing season, and once fields are cleared and cold South Plains winter weather sets in, they move toward the nearest available shelter, which is often the edge of town. Sealing entry points ahead of that shift works better than waiting until mice are already inside.
What happens next?
Book a free inspection and a local technician will confirm what you are dealing with.
Reviewed by Marcus Reed, Lead Pest Control Technician, State-Licensed Applicator, PestRemovalUSA