Fall Festivals and Pesky Guests: What You Need to Know
Posted by Mosquito Squad
September 30, 2025
Pumpkin patches, hayrides, caramel apples and corn mazes are popular autumn venues throughout Greater St. Louis. Here’s why pests love them too!
Along with cider, cozy sweaters, and crips air, there too come unwanted outdoor pests. Ticks, stink bugs, and flies are all bugs that thrive during this time of the year and fall festivals and outdoor gatherings give them plenty of opportunities to become the most unwanted party crashers of the season!
Ticks, Autumn Hitchhikers
When we consider ticks, summer hikes might come to mind. But fall is also a peak season for these tiny arachnids! Why? Well, as adult ticks seek their final blood meal before overwintering, they find unwitting accomplices in their plight. Wild animals, which might be drawn to pumpkins, squash, and gourds will bring tick hitchhikers right to your yard or party or festival venue. If you have deer, rodents, or raccoons in nearby areas, you have a much higher chance of encountering a fall tick – left behind in a haybale, tall grasses, or other hiding spaces.
Adults, kids, and pets alike are all at risk for a potentially dangerous tick bite in autumn.
Stink Bugs, Stink Bugs – Everywhere You Look
It’s no secret that stink bugs love autumn. As temperatures begin to cool throughout the St. Louis area, these stinky invaders will gather near homes, businesses, and festival spaces for shelter. Their massive numbers and clustering habits make them very noticeable this time of year.
While they don’t bite or sting, stink bugs can be quite irritating du to their sheer numbers – and their unwanted stench.
Sweets, Leftovers, and Garbage – Fly Haven
Perhaps the only beings on earth that love a good fall festival, full of sweet treats more than us humans, are flies. These scavengers will show up for cotton candy, caramel apples, and apple cider. But they’ll stick around for sticky wrappers, food waste, and other delectable autumn treats.
Not only are they nearly impossible to deal with when you’re trying to enjoy a fall snack, but they are also very nasty. Flies carry with them the threat of various types of bacteria that can make us very ill. These include salmonella and E. coli.
From trash bins to autumn picnics – flies will show up for all of it!
We Can Help Keep Fall Festivities….Well, Festive!
Mosquito Squad of Greater St. Louis is here for your favorite fall event. Whether it’s a private wedding, public festival, hayrides on the farm, or any other occasion, our highly effective special event pest control services are sure to make your fall celebrations the best they can be – with fewer pests and many more smiles.
Search for St. Louis outdoor pest control and call Mosquito Squad!
Don’t suffer pests in your backyard or at your seasonal event! Mosquito Squad provides fast-acting outdoor pest control near you. Schedule your free pest assessment and quote by calling (314) 582-3980 or filling out our online form.
