Free for homeowners
Pest control in Mississippi
What are the most common pests in this state, and who handles them?
Pest control in Mississippi is termite-led. Eastern subterranean termites swarm statewide from March, Formosan termites hold the Gulf Coast, and imported fire ants are established throughout the state. Through PestChief, a Mississippi homeowner reaches one independent local pest control company that covers the ZIP code, free of charge.
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 along the Gulf Coast
- Eastern subterranean termites statewide with spring swarms
- Imported fire ants throughout the state
- Delta and coastal mosquito breeding at high volume
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi?
Termites top the list in Mississippi, followed by ants, cockroaches, rodents, spiders and mosquitoes. The state-specific pressures:
- Formosan subterranean termites along the Gulf Coast
- Eastern subterranean termites statewide with spring swarms
- Imported fire ants throughout the state
- Delta and coastal mosquito breeding at high volume
When is pest season in Mississippi?
Pest season in Mississippi opens with March termite swarms and runs hard through the summer, with mild winters preventing a real break.
Spring: Termite swarms begin in March; fire ant mounds become active. Summer: Peak mosquito, roach and fire ant pressure. Fall: Rodents move indoors; roach pressure remains high. Winter: Mild winters keep roach and fire ant activity going at reduced levels.
Who licenses pest control companies in Mississippi?
Mississippi regulates structural pest control through the Department of Agriculture and Commerce and its Bureau of Plant Industry, and termite work carries its own certification. For termite treatment, ask for that specific Mississippi certification.
How much does pest control cost in Mississippi?
Nationally published estimates: about $171 per single visit (This Old House national average), $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor) per one time treatment program, and $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) per year on recurring plans. Termite protection in Mississippi is a separate conversation with the inspecting company, and none of these national figures are PestChief quotes.
Are Formosan termites in Mississippi?
Yes. Formosan subterranean termites are established along Mississippi's Gulf Coast, while eastern subterranean termites work the whole state and swarm from March. Termite work carries its own certification requirement for Mississippi operators, so it is worth asking about credentials on any termite job. Imported fire ants add a second statewide pressure.
Does PestChief cover Mississippi?
Mississippi coverage includes the Jackson metro and the Gulfport and Biloxi coast. The deciding factor is your ZIP code, because independent companies each define where they work; the locations finder checks it. One local pest control company that covers the ZIP code and handles the pest receives the request and makes direct contact.
Where does this information come from?
Seasonality and pest biology
- US EPA, Termites
- LSU AgCenter
- US EPA, Integrated Pest Management principles
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Home and Landscape pests
- US EPA, Safe Pest Control
- CDC, Rodents
- US EPA, Rodenticides
Pricing
National estimates from published industry sources. Not PestChief quotes.
Licensing
Licensing is administered by Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
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.