Pest control in Iowa

What to know about pest control in Iowa

Iowa homeowners deal with termites underground, ticks in wooded areas and a wave of insects looking for winter shelter every fall. Knowing who licenses the companies that treat them makes it easier to hire well.

Common pests in Iowa

Iowa State University Extension and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services describe these pests.

• Termites. Iowa State University Extension has termite reports from almost every county. Activity is generally higher in the southern part of the state, though some northern counties near large cities or major rivers see more. See our page on termites.
• Blacklegged ticks. This tick, also called the deer tick, spreads Lyme disease in Iowa. It lives in tall grass and brush in wooded areas, and the young nymph stage is the most likely to pass on the infection. See our page on fleas and ticks.
• Mosquitoes. The state health department reports human cases of West Nile virus in Iowa every year since 2002. See our page on mosquitoes.
• Fall invaders. Boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles, millipedes, crickets and spiders move indoors as the weather cools. Extension says they don't sting, carry disease or breed inside, and that sealing gaps around windows, doors, pipes and siding is the best defense.
• Brown recluse spiders. These are rare in Iowa. Extension says they might be found in the southern part of the state but not in the north. See our page on spiders.

Who licenses pest control companies in Iowa

The Pesticide Bureau of the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship certifies pesticide applicators and licenses the companies they work for. Read more on the bureau's applicator licensing and certification page, and check a person or company with its pesticide applicator and company lookup.

How to check a company before you hire

1. Look up the company and the technician with the state's lookup before any work starts.
2. For termite work, ask which termite they found, what evidence shows it, and which treatment they recommend.
3. Get the treatment plan, follow-up inspections and any warranty in writing before work starts.
4. Read reviews from other Iowa customers. If you've hired a company, you can write a review to help your neighbors, and learn how reviews work.