Yes, most Missouri homes still need pest control in the winter. Cold weather pushes mice inside, and mice can have babies every month of the year. Cockroaches and many spiders live inside your home all year. Bugs that came in last fall hide in your walls and wake up on warm days. Winter is a good time to stop them before spring.
If you already see signs of pests this winter, our residential pest control service starts with a free inspection. We look for how pests are getting in and treat the home inside and out.
Do pests go away in the winter?
No. Pests don't die off or leave when it gets cold. Most of them just move to a warmer place, and your house is the warmest place around.
Here is what happens to the most common home pests in a Missouri winter:
| Pest | What it does in winter | Source |
|---|---|---|
| House mice | Move inside for food and shelter, and keep having babies all year | MU Extension, via Missourinet |
| German and brownbanded cockroaches | Live their whole lives indoors, so cold outside does not slow them down | MU Extension cockroach guide |
| Wood cockroaches | Can come in from wooded lots to spend the winter | MU Extension cockroach guide |
| Asian lady beetles and stink bugs | Hide in walls and attics, then wander into rooms on warm days | MU Extension lady beetle guide |
| House spiders, like the brown recluse | Stay inside all winter in quiet, dry spots like boxes and closets | MU Extension spider guide |
Why do mice come inside in the winter?
Mice come inside in the winter to find a safe, warm place close to food. Bob Pearce, a wildlife expert with University of Missouri Extension, told Missourinet that mice are "looking for a place where they can have safety, but also access to food sources."
Mice also grow in number fast. Pearce says a mouse can have 4 to 6 babies at a time, or more, and can do it every month of the year. So two mice in November can be a big problem by spring. He also says even a few mice in a home can cause lots of problems.
For more on how mice get in, read our post on why mice get into Missouri homes.
Are cockroaches active in the winter?
Yes. The cockroaches that live in Missouri homes are active all winter. The MU Extension cockroach guide says German and brownbanded cockroaches are mostly found indoors. It says four kinds of cockroaches can live their whole life cycle inside a building. That means the weather outside doesn't matter to them. A warm kitchen is all they need.
What can you do to keep pests out this winter?
The best thing you can do is close the holes pests use to get in. These steps come from MU Extension:
- Check the outside of your home. Walk the foundation and look for holes and gaps. Pearce says to look for holes where wires come into the house too.
- Seal gaps. Caulk cracks around doors, windows, siding and pipes.
- Add door sweeps. They block mice and bugs and help keep the heat in.
- Clear the base of the house. Move firewood, leaves and junk piles away from the walls. They give mice a place to hide.
- Use snap traps for mice. Pearce says a plain snap trap is "cheap and effective." Peanut butter works well as bait.
- Skip poison inside. Pearce does not suggest poison baits indoors. A mouse that eats it can die inside your wall and cause a bad smell.
Is quarterly pest control worth it in the winter?
For most homes, yes. A winter visit is a chance to find the gaps, droppings and nests that turn into a spring problem. Many of our customers stay on quarterly service all year. One O'Fallon customer has been on it for more than 14 years.
At Hometown Pest Solutions in St. Peters, our quarterly plans come with a 365-day pest-free guarantee. If pests show up between visits, we come back at no charge. One customer put it this way in a Google review: "If you have problems in between your quarterly visits, they are quick to help resolve the problem." Residential customers never sign a contract.
Not sure if you need a plan or just one visit? See quarterly vs. one-time pest control.
Winter pest control FAQ
Can pest control be done in the winter? Yes. Mice and roaches are active all winter, so they can be treated all winter. It is also a good time to find and close gaps before spring.
Do mice leave in the spring? Not on their own. Mice that have food and a warm place to live will stay. And they can have babies all year, so the problem can grow while you wait.
Why do I see bugs on warm winter days? Lady beetles and stink bugs that came in last fall hide in your walls. MU Extension says they wake up and wander out on warm days.
Should I set off a bug bomb in the winter? No. MU Extension says indoor sprays don't work well on lady beetles, and MU Integrated Pest Management says not to use foggers on stink bugs. Most of them are hiding inside the walls, where a bug bomb can't reach.
Get help with winter pests
If you hear scratching in the walls, find droppings, or see roaches or spiders this winter, we can help. We serve St. Peters, O'Fallon, St. Charles, Wentzville and nearby towns. Learn about our residential pest control service, request a free pest inspection, or call or text 636-297-1335. We are open 7 days a week.