Pest control in Indiana

What to know about pest control in Indiana

In Indiana, ticks and mosquitoes bring most of the health worries, and termite work brings many of the complaints. Indiana is also unusual in who licenses pest control, since the job belongs to the state chemist's office at Purdue University. Knowing how that works makes it easier to hire well.

Common pests in Indiana

The Indiana Department of Health and local health departments write about these pests for Indiana residents.

• Blacklegged ticks. These ticks are present in most Indiana counties and can spread Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus. Nymphs are most active in spring and summer, and adults in fall and early spring. See our page on fleas and ticks.
• American dog ticks and lone star ticks. Most ticks found attached to people in Indiana in spring and summer are American dog ticks, and lone star ticks are the next most common. Tick season peaks in April, May and June.
• Mosquitoes. West Nile virus is the most commonly reported mosquito-borne disease in Indiana. It is spread mainly by Culex mosquitoes. See our page on mosquitoes.
• Termites. The state chemist's office lists failure to control termites and inaccurate wood-destroying pest inspections among the complaints it hears most often. That makes it worth checking any termite company carefully. See our page on termites.

Who licenses pest control companies in Indiana

The Office of Indiana State Chemist licenses pest control companies. Any person or business that applies pesticides to another person's property for hire, or advertises doing so, needs a pesticide business license. The business license and the applicator's own license are separate, and a business must employ at least one certified applicator. Read more on the office's pesticide business license page, and use its license database search to look up licensed businesses and applicators.

How to check a company before you hire

1. Look up both the business license and the technician's applicator license with the state chemist's database.
2. For termite work, ask which termite they found, what evidence shows it, and which treatment they recommend.
3. Ask how many follow-up inspections are included and what the warranty covers.
4. Get the treatment plan and any warranty in writing before work starts.
5. Read reviews from other Indiana customers. If you've hired a company, you can write a review to help your neighbors, and learn how reviews work.