Pests to know in St. Louis
Termites in St. Louis
Four termite species occur naturally in Missouri. All belong to the genus Reticulitermes, and all are subterranean termites that live in soil and in wood touching the soil.[7]
Pests local experts flag
Climate
Central St. Louis (ZIP 63101) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, where the average coldest winter night is 0 to 5°F.[10]
Public agencies that handle pests
- The City of St. Louis Department of Health's Vector Control program works to reduce disease-carrying pests, mainly mosquitoes and rats, and responds to reports of other potential disease vectors.[1]
- City of St. Louis residents report rats, mosquito problems and other pests to the Citizens' Service Bureau, which also takes requests to have an address left out of mosquito spraying.[2]
- The City of St. Louis does not test birds or mosquitoes for West Nile virus, because the virus is considered endemic in the area.[3]
- The St. Louis Department of Health does precautionary mosquito fogging to reduce mosquito numbers, and residents can ask to have their block fogged.[3]
- The St. Louis County Department of Public Health's Vector Control division handles mosquito control for more than 70 municipalities in the St. Louis area, including Glendale.[4]
- St. Louis County Vector Control relies mainly on treating standing water to kill larvae. It uses adult fogging, the least effective method, only when trapping detects mosquito-borne disease.[4]
Hiring a licensed company
The Missouri Department of Agriculture licenses termite work under a separate Category 7B, Termite Pest Control, covering wood-destroying organisms such as termites, carpenter ants and powderpost beetles.[8]
Free local help
MU Extension in St. Louis County serves residents of the county's 90 municipalities and the City of St. Louis, offering horticulture programs and supporting local Master Gardener chapters.[9]
Through the year
- Spring
- In Missouri, eastern subterranean termites swarm during the spring months, usually on a warm, sunny day after rain.[7]
Sources
- City of St. Louis Department of Health, “Vector Control.” www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/environmental-health/vector-control/index.cfm (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of St. Louis Department of Health, “Report Pest and Rodent Problems.” www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/environmental-health/vector-control/pest-problems.cfm (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of St. Louis Department of Health, “Information about mosquitoes and preventing West Nile.” www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/environmental-health/vector-control/mosquitoes.cfm (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Glendale, Missouri, “Vector Control Mosquito Program | Glendale, MO.” glendalemo.org/residents/services_programs/vector_control_mosquito_program.php (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Missouri Extension, “Spiders - Page 3 | MU Extension.” extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7386/3 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Missouri Extension, “Spiders | MU Extension.” extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7386 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Missouri Extension, “Subterranean Termites | MU Extension.” extension.missouri.edu/publications/g7420 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Missouri Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Pesticide Control, “Pesticide Control | Missouri Department of Agriculture.” agriculture.mo.gov/plants/pesticides/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Missouri Extension, St. Louis County, “St. Louis | MU Extension.” extension.missouri.edu/counties/st-louis (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 63101 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/63101.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)