Polk County · 50309
Pest Control in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is one of our biggest service markets, and for good reason — older brick homes in Beaverdale and Sherman Hill, riverfront condos downtown, fast-growing south-side neighborhoods, and a heavy commercial corridor all create unique pest pressure. We've treated everything from carpenter ants in century-old foundations to rodent issues in restaurants on Court Avenue. Veteran-owned, locally operated, and we live within an hour of every job we run in Des Moines.
Des Moines by the numbers
Quick facts about Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.
- Founded
- 1843 (Fort Des Moines)
- Population
- ~212,000 (city)
- Metro population
- ~720,000
- County
- Polk County (seat)
- Elevation
- 942 ft
- Land area
- ~81 sq mi
- ZIP codes served
- 50309–50328
- Notable
- Capital of Iowa
A short history of Des Moines
Des Moines was settled in 1843 as Fort Des Moines, a U.S. Army garrison built at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers to keep peace between Sauk and Meskwaki tribes and incoming settlers. The fort was decommissioned in 1846 and the town was incorporated as 'Fort Des Moines' in 1851, shortened to Des Moines in 1857 — the same year it was named the permanent capital of Iowa, replacing Iowa City.
The late 1800s and early 1900s turned Des Moines into the insurance and publishing capital of the Midwest. Equitable of Iowa, Principal Financial, and Meredith Corporation all rooted here, and the city's brick-and-stone housing stock from that era — Sherman Hill, Drake, Beaverdale, the East Village — still defines its neighborhoods today. Those same century-old foundations are exactly why carpenter ants, termites, and rodents stay a year-round issue in Des Moines.
Modern Des Moines is the largest city in Iowa and the anchor of a metro of more than 700,000 people. It is home to the Iowa State Capitol, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, the State Fair, and the Drake Relays.
Services we provide in Des Moines
- Ant Control
- Cockroach Control
- Bed Bug Treatment
- Rodent Control & Exclusion
- Termite Inspection & Treatment
- Spider Control
- Mosquito Control
- Box Elder & Asian Beetle Control
- Commercial Pest Control
- Agricultural & Barn Pest Control
- Quarterly Maintenance Plan
Common Des Moines pest problems
Spring in Des Moines (April–May) is carpenter ant and termite swarm season. Older homes in Beaverdale, Drake, and the East Village are particularly vulnerable — wood trim, wraparound porches, and brick foundations from the 1900s give termites and carpenter ants ideal entry conditions.
Summer (June–August) brings flying and crawling pests at once — mosquitoes along the Raccoon River, ant trails in nearly every kitchen we visit, and cockroach activity in older multi-unit buildings.
Fall (September–October) is when mice push indoors. Older Des Moines homes have rim joists, foundation cracks, and basement bulkheads that mice exploit aggressively. We've trapped and excluded houses in nearly every Des Moines ZIP code.
Winter (November–February) brings overwintering box elder bugs, Asian lady beetles, and ongoing rodent issues. Don't wait until spring — winter is the easiest time to seal entry points and break the cycle.
Neighborhoods we serve in Des Moines
- Downtown / East Village
- Beaverdale
- Sherman Hill
- Drake
- Ingersoll Park
- Court Avenue District
- South Side
- Highland Park
Why Des Moines homeowners choose Pest Control Techs
Most national pest control brands service Des Moines from a call center hundreds of miles away. We're 90 minutes south in Albia, run by veterans who know Iowa, and our technicians are local. When you call, you reach a person — not a script.
We service all of Des Moines and immediately surrounding areas: West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Clive, Windsor Heights, Pleasant Hill, and Altoona.
Our full service area
Des Moines is part of our Central & Southeast Iowa coverage area.
"Showed up the same day, professional, fair price. Easy to recommend to anyone in Des Moines."
— Recent Des Moines customer
Des Moines pest control FAQ
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