Free for homeowners
Pest control in Louisiana
What are the most common pests in this state, and who handles them?
Pest control in Louisiana is continuous rather than seasonal. Formosan subterranean termites are the defining structural threat in New Orleans and the coastal parishes, swarming at dusk in May, and American cockroaches and mosquitoes stay active year round. PestChief, a free matching service, passes each Louisiana request to one local pest control company.
Where can you read about each pest?
Pest pressure here is shaped by climate, geography and housing stock, so it varies across the state. The notable issues for this state are set out on this page. For how each pest is identified, what the signs look like and what treatment usually involves, read the pest guides.
What is the climate like here?
Climate is the biggest single driver of which pests live here and how long their season runs.
Which pest issues stand out here?
- Formosan subterranean termites, a defining structural threat in New Orleans and coastal parishes
- Massive springtime Formosan swarms at dusk, drawn to lights
- Year-round American cockroach and mosquito activity
- Roof rats and Norway rats in dense historic neighborhoods
- Subsidence and high water tables complicating soil treatment
Which pests are active in each season?
Activity shifts through the year, so the pest worth treating in March is rarely the one worth treating in August.
Which pests are active in spring?
Which pests are active in summer?
Which pests are active in fall?
Which pests are active in winter?
How does pest pressure vary by region?
Pest pressure is not uniform across a state. Elevation, humidity, soil and the age of the housing stock all change which pests appear and when.
Which regions of the state face which pests?
When do termites swarm in each region?
Is your ZIP code in Louisiana covered?
PestChief is free to the homeowner. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code, not state by state. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company, and it contacts you directly.
What licensing should you ask a company for?
Licensing is the one check a homeowner can make before any work starts. Every state requires a pest control company to hold a license, and most require a separate certification for specialty work such as termite treatment. Ask for the license number, confirm it covers the pest you have, and check it with the state agency that issues it.
What does this state require of a licensed company?
What else should you know about this state?
A few state specific details that change how pest control works here, and what they mean for a homeowner.
Which metro areas are covered?
Coverage varies inside a state, not only between states. A company that covers one metro area may not cover a rural ZIP code two counties away, and the pests it is licensed to treat can differ as well. The metro areas listed here are where PestChief most often has a company to introduce you to. If your city is not listed, a ZIP code check is still worth doing.
What do homeowners ask most?
What pests are most common in Louisiana?
Louisiana call volume runs to ants, cockroaches, spiders, wasps and hornets, mosquitoes, and fleas and ticks, and it barely drops in winter. The local drivers:
- Formosan subterranean termites, a defining structural threat in New Orleans and coastal parishes
- Massive springtime Formosan swarms at dusk, drawn to lights
- Year-round American cockroach and mosquito activity
- Roof rats and Norway rats in dense historic neighborhoods
- Subsidence and high water tables complicating soil treatment
When is pest season in Louisiana?
Pest season in Louisiana never really closes, and the sharpest event of the year is the May Formosan termite swarm.
Spring: Native subterranean termite swarms, followed by Formosan swarms in May. Summer: Peak mosquito and roach pressure; termite feeding continues. Fall: Rodent activity rises; roach pressure stays high. Winter: No real winter break; roaches, mosquitoes and most other pests stay active at reduced levels.
Who licenses pest control companies in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry licenses pest control operators, and termite work requires its own certification. For a termite job, ask specifically for the company's Louisiana termite certification, not just a general license.
How much does pest control cost in Louisiana?
Mild winters keep Louisiana roaches and mosquitoes active year round, so the recurring figure matters most: $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) per year in published national estimates. A single visit averages about $171 (This Old House national average), and a one time treatment program runs $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor) nationally. None of these are PestChief quotes; the company that inspects your home sets your price.
When do Formosan termites swarm in Louisiana?
Formosan subterranean termites swarm in May in Louisiana, at dusk, with swarmers drawn to lights. Native subterranean termites swarm earlier in spring. Formosan colonies are the defining structural threat in New Orleans and the coastal parishes, and high water tables and subsidence complicate the soil treatments used against them.
Does PestChief cover Louisiana?
In Louisiana, PestChief's covered metro is New Orleans. Whether a specific address qualifies depends on the ZIP code, since each independent company sets its own service area; check yours in the locations finder. A matched request goes to one local pest control company covering that ZIP code and pest, and the company gets in touch directly. If no company covers your ZIP code, PestChief tells you so.
Where does this information come from?
Seasonality and pest biology
- US EPA, Integrated Pest Management principles
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Home and Landscape pests
- US EPA, Safe Pest Control
- Penn State Extension
Pricing
National estimates from published industry sources. Not PestChief quotes.
Licensing
Licensing is administered by Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Ready to get this handled?
It costs the homeowner nothing. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company. It contacts you directly, and it sets its own price.
What should you check before you hire?
Every state we cover
Browse the full list of states and metro areas, and check whether your area is covered.
Pests, one by one
Identification, signs of an infestation and what to do first, for each pest we cover.
What pest control costs
National ranges by treatment type, with the basis for each figure stated plainly.
Season by season
Which pests get active when, and the months worth acting in before a problem grows.
Learn the basics
Plain explanations of treatments, prevention and the questions worth asking a company.
How PestChief works
We match a homeowner with one independent local pest control company. Here is what happens.