Pests to know in Albuquerque
Termites in Albuquerque
Termites do live in New Mexico, often in soil feeding on decaying organic matter. NMSU advises checking crawl spaces and damp rooms for the mud tunnels termites build.[6]
Pests local experts flag
- Plague and tularemia occur naturally in New Mexico. In Bernalillo County, most cases come from the East Mountains, with some from the western foothills and North Albuquerque Acres.[1]
- Albuquerque is a Bee City USA. Beekeepers can call 311 to join the Environmental Health no-spray list, and the city says not to spray honeybee swarms, which occur naturally in spring.[3]
- The City of Albuquerque does not remove wasps or wasp nests on private property; residents should call a private pest control company, and nests on city property can be reported to 311.[3]
Climate
Central Albuquerque (ZIP 87102) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7b, where the average coldest winter night is 5 to 10°F.[8]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Albuquerque's Urban Biology Division collects dead rodents and rabbits for plague and tularemia testing from North Albuquerque Acres, neighborhoods east of Tramway, the Foothills and the East Mountains. Mice are not collected.[1]
- The city monitors adult mosquitoes with CDC light traps and gravid traps, with trapping sites concentrated near the Bosque and spread across Bernalillo County.[2]
- Plague is rare, but the New Mexico Department of Health says about half of U.S. plague cases each year occur in New Mexico. People usually catch it from infected rodent fleas.[4]
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, spread by infected rodents, was first recognized in 1993. New Mexico reported 142 cases and 55 deaths between 1975 and 2025.[5]
Local rules and responsibilities
- The city takes rodent complaints only from multi-unit housing. Tenants should notify property management, ideally in writing, and call 311 if nothing is done within 10 days.[1]
- Together with Bernalillo County, the Urban Biology Division enforces Albuquerque's Insect and Rodent Control Ordinance (9-7), and mosquito control is a joint city-county effort.[2]
Hiring a licensed company
In New Mexico, anyone inspecting for wood-destroying organisms such as termites must be licensed by NMDA and certified in Category 7D (Wood Destroying Pest Control).[7]
Free local help
For uncertain insect finds, NMSU's extension horticulture specialist recommends taking a sample to the local NMSU Cooperative Extension Service office for positive identification.[6]
Through the year
- Spring to Fall
- The Urban Biology Division keeps a stock pond of mosquitofish and gives them free to the public between May and September.[2]
Sources
- City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, Urban Biology Division, “Rodents.” www.cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/urban-biology/rodents (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, Urban Biology Division, “Pest Management.” www.cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/urban-biology/pest-management (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department, Urban Biology Division, “Bees.” www.cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/urban-biology/bees-and-wasps (accessed 2026-10-06)
- New Mexico Department of Health, “Plague.” www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/plg/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- New Mexico Department of Health, “Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome.” www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/ideb/zdp/hps/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, “Southwest Yard & Garden.” swyg.nmsu.edu/2012/063012.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
- New Mexico Department of Agriculture, “Commercial Applicators.” nmdeptag.nmsu.edu/pesticides/commercial-applicators.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 87102 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/87102.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)