General Pest Control in St. Louis
Our R.O.S. (Regular Outside Service) program uses a 3-chemical rotation system to keep your home pest-free year-round. Bi-monthly exterior treatments, rodent bait stations included.
Get a Free Estimate (314) 967-2847 (BUGS)
What Is the R.O.S. Program?
Most pest problems in Missouri do not require emergency treatment — they require consistent, proactive prevention that keeps pests outside where they belong. Roberts Pest Control’s R.O.S. (Regular Outside Service) program does exactly that.
R.O.S. stands for Regular Outside Service. Every two months, a Roberts technician visits your property and applies a targeted perimeter treatment around your foundation — one foot up the exterior wall and one foot out from where the ground meets the foundation. This is the entry zone where nearly every crawling pest tries to get inside.
The treatment chemistry changes with the season because different pests are active at different times, and because rotating between chemical classes prevents pest populations from developing resistance. This is the same resistance-management principle used in agriculture and medicine, applied to your home.
Our 3-Chemical Rotation System
We rotate between three different product families throughout the year, each targeting the pest pressures most common during that period:
- Winter & Summer Rotations: A broad-spectrum residual product that delivers strong knockdown and long-lasting protection in both cold and peak-heat conditions.
- Spring & Fall Rotations: A non-repellent transfer chemistry — pests walk through it unknowingly and carry it back to the colony, wiping out entire nests from the inside out. This is critical before spring and fall population surges.
- Transitional Rotations: A triple-action formula with a built-in synergist that overcomes resistance in local pest populations. This ensures that even pests that have adapted to common treatments are eliminated.
Each product belongs to a different chemical class with a different mode of action. This is the same resistance-management approach used in agriculture and medicine — pest populations never get a chance to adapt to what we are applying. And in wet or snowy conditions where liquid spray would wash away, we switch to weather-activated granules so your protection never has a gap.
1.25% Callback Rate — Why Chemistry Matters
Roberts’ callback rate averages just 1.25%. To put that in perspective, the pest control industry considers anything under 3% “good” and anything over 6% cause for alarm (source: PCT / WorkWave industry standards).
We attribute this directly to two things:
- Exterior-focused application with premium products — We concentrate our treatments on the foundation perimeter using higher-end professional-grade chemistries, not bargain-bin generics. Better products applied where pests actually enter means fewer breakthroughs.
- Chemical class rotation — By rotating between three different modes of action every two months, local pest populations never develop resistance to our treatments. Most competitors spray the same single product visit after visit until it stops working — then they blame the bugs.
The result: your home stays pest-free between visits, and we almost never have to come back for a redo. That’s not a marketing claim — it’s what the numbers show.
Pests Covered by R.O.S.
The R.O.S. program is designed to prevent and control the most common household pests in the greater St. Louis area, including:
- Ants (pavement ants, odorous house ants, carpenter ants, and more)
- Spiders (including brown recluse — Missouri’s most common medically significant spider)
- Roaches (American, Oriental, and smoky brown — the outdoor species that invade from perimeters)
- Silverfish and firebrats
- Earwigs
- Centipedes and millipedes
- Pill bugs and sow bugs
- Crickets
- Stink bugs and boxelder bugs (seasonal invaders)
- General crawling insects that breach the foundation perimeter
Exterior Rodent Bait Stations Included
Every R.O.S. account includes 3 exterior rodent bait stations (ERBS) at no additional charge. These tamper-resistant stations are placed along your foundation and baited with professional-grade rodenticide. Roberts owns the stations and maintains them at every bi-monthly visit — cleaning, re-baiting, and checking for rodent activity.
For heavy rodent pressure, we also carry a cleanout-grade fast-acting professional-grade bait with a stop-feed mechanism that leaves more bait available for the rest of the population. Rodent protection is not an upsell here — it is part of the service.
Your Initial Service Visit
Your first visit is a complete assessment and treatment. The technician will:
- Inspect your home’s interior for pest activity, conducive conditions, and points of entry
- Treat interior baseboards with a residual spray appropriate to the situation
- Dust plumbing voids and cracks with a water-resistant insecticidal dust
- Treat the exterior foundation perimeter with that month’s rotation chemistry
- Dust siding channels with an electric duster for long-lasting void protection
- Remove cobwebs for spider population control
- Document all findings and recommendations on your service ticket
- Discuss ongoing R.O.S. protection and answer your questions
Science-Based Rotation
Three chemical classes rotated bi-monthly to prevent resistance — not just one product sprayed repeatedly.
Exterior-Focused
Treatments applied outside where pests originate, minimizing indoor pesticide exposure for your family.
Rodent Stations Included
3 tamper-resistant exterior bait stations per home at no additional charge, maintained every visit.
1.25% Callback Rate
Industry average is 3–6%. Our premium chemistry and rotation system means we almost never have to come back.
| Feature | R.O.S. Program | Typical Competitors |
|---|---|---|
| 1.25% Callback Rate | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| 3-Chemical Rotation | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Bi-Monthly Service | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rodent Stations Included | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Weather-Activated Backup | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Resistance Management | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Same-Day Emergency Service | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Interior Treatment (Initial) | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Our 4-month callback rate averages just 1.25% — the industry average is 3–6%. We attribute this directly to our exterior-focused approach and 3-chemical rotation system. When you use higher-end products and rotate chemical classes, pests don’t come back.
Schedule Your Free EstimateWhy Choose Roberts?
- Science-Based Rotation — Three chemical classes rotated bi-monthly to prevent resistance, not just a single product sprayed over and over.
- Exterior-Focused Approach — Treatments are applied outside where pests originate, minimizing indoor pesticide exposure.
- Rodent Stations Included — 3 ERBS per home at no extra charge, maintained every visit.
- All-Weather Coverage — Granular backup when conditions make liquid spray impractical, so your protection never has a gap.
- Same-Day Emergency Service — When you need us fast, we show up — same-day service for urgent pest situations.
- Local, Owner-Operated — Your technician knows your property, not just your address.
What to Expect
- Free Inspection We assess your property, identify pest pressures, and explain exactly what we'll do.
- Initial Treatment Complete interior and exterior treatment — baseboards, plumbing voids, foundation perimeter, siding channels, cobweb removal.
- Bi-Monthly R.O.S. Every 2 months we return for exterior perimeter treatment with rotated chemistry plus rodent station maintenance.
- Year-Round Protection Consistent coverage with zero gaps — and if pests show up between visits, we come back at no charge.
Service Area
- Jefferson County
- St. Louis County
- St. Charles County
- Franklin County
- South St. Louis City
Schedule Your Free Estimate
Fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you fast — usually same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do you come out?
R.O.S. visits are every two months (bi-monthly). This frequency keeps a fresh chemical barrier around your home at all times while using the minimum amount of product necessary. If you have a pest issue between visits, call us — we take care of it.
Is the treatment safe for pets and kids?
Yes. Products are applied to the exterior foundation perimeter — an area where people and pets have minimal contact. Interior treatments during the initial service are applied to baseboards and cracks, which dry quickly. We follow all EPA label directions, and our technicians will advise you on any re-entry precautions for specific situations.
What if I see pests between visits?
Call us. If you have an issue between scheduled R.O.S. visits, we come back and address it at no charge. That is part of the service. Our callback rate averages just 1.25% — the industry average is 3–6%. We achieve this by concentrating on the exterior with higher-end products and rotating chemical classes so pests simply don’t come back.
Do you treat the inside of my home?
The initial service includes a thorough interior treatment. After that, the R.O.S. program focuses on exterior perimeter treatment to keep pests from ever getting inside. If an interior issue develops, we address it on request.
How much does general pest control cost?
Every home is different, so we provide a personalized quote after understanding your property and pest pressure. Call (314) 967-2847 for a free estimate — no pressure, no surprises.
What makes your chemical rotation different?
Most pest companies use the same product every visit. We rotate between three different chemical classes — each with a different mode of action — so pest populations never develop resistance. It’s the same approach used in agriculture and medicine.