Free for homeowners
Pest control in Virginia
What are the most common pests in this state, and who handles them?
Pest control in Virginia spans coast to mountains: eastern subterranean termites swarm statewide in March and April, lone star and blacklegged ticks hold wooded suburban yards, salt marsh mosquitoes brood in Tidewater and on the Eastern Shore, and stink bugs overwinter in the Shenandoah Valley. PestChief matches Virginia homeowners with one independent 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?
- Eastern subterranean termites statewide with spring swarms
- Lone star and blacklegged tick pressure in wooded suburban yards
- Salt marsh mosquito broods in Tidewater and the Eastern Shore
- Brown marmorated stink bugs overwintering in the Shenandoah Valley
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 Virginia 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 Virginia?
Termites, ticks, mosquitoes and stink bugs cover most Virginia pest calls, each tied to its own region. The pressures:
- Eastern subterranean termites statewide with spring swarms
- Lone star and blacklegged tick pressure in wooded suburban yards
- Salt marsh mosquito broods in Tidewater and the Eastern Shore
- Brown marmorated stink bugs overwintering in the Shenandoah Valley
When is pest season in Virginia?
Pest season in Virginia opens with March and April termite swarms and ends with the fall stink bug and rodent move indoors.
Spring: Termite swarms in March and April; ticks and stink bugs become active. Summer: Peak tick and salt marsh mosquito pressure in Tidewater; roaches and ants climb. Fall: Stink bugs and rodents move indoors. Winter: Indoor rodent and roach work; termite colonies stay active underground.
Who licenses pest control companies in Virginia?
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulates structural pest control through its Office of Pesticide Services, licensing businesses and certifying commercial applicators. Ask for the Virginia license before treatment and check that it covers the pest you have.
How much does pest control cost in Virginia?
Published national benchmarks run about $171 per single visit (This Old House national average), $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor) for a one time treatment program and $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) a year on a recurring plan; none is a PestChief quote. Spring termite inspections and summer tick and mosquito work carry the Virginia season, and the company that inspects your home sets the actual price.
Why do stink bugs gather in the Shenandoah Valley?
Brown marmorated stink bugs overwinter in large numbers in the Shenandoah Valley, where orchard and farm landscapes sit against housing and the insects move to sun-warmed walls as nights cool. They enter through siding gaps, attic vents and window frames, then re-emerge indoors in spring. Exclusion in late summer is the work that pays off.
Does PestChief cover Virginia?
Virginia coverage includes Richmond and Virginia Beach. From Tidewater to the Valley, coverage is set ZIP code by ZIP code and company by company, so the check that matters is your own ZIP code in the locations finder. PestChief passes your request to one independent local pest control company that covers your ZIP code and handles your pest, and that company contacts you 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 Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
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.