Pests to know in Bend
Termites in Bend
Oregon State University Extension identifies Pacific dampwood termites and western subterranean termites as the species that damage structures in the Pacific Northwest.[1]
Pests local experts flag
Deschutes County names Aedes vexans as one of the main mosquitoes found in Central Oregon.[2]
Climate
Central Bend (ZIP 97701) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6b, where the average coldest winter night is -5 to 0°F.[9]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Deschutes County does not run a mosquito control program. The Four Rivers Vector Control District handles vector control only in certain parts of southern Deschutes County.[2]
- West Nile virus was first detected in Deschutes County in 2006, according to county health services.[2]
- Of roughly 20 hard tick species in Oregon, only four feed on people: the western black-legged tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, American dog tick, and Pacific Coast tick.[3]
- Deschutes County advises that all bats be treated as rabid unless proven otherwise, and asks residents to report every animal bite to Deschutes County Animal Control.[4]
- The Oregon Health Authority says crows, ravens, jays, magpies, and sage grouse are natural West Nile virus hosts in Oregon, and a large bird die-off may signal local virus activity.[8]
Hiring a licensed company
- Oregon requires a pesticide license before anyone applies or supervises application of any pesticide on someone else's property, apart from narrowly limited landscape maintenance work.[6]
- Oregon law restricts pesticide use on school campuses: only properly licensed applicators may apply them, and generally only low-impact pesticides are allowed.[7]
Free local help
OSU Extension in Central Oregon runs a codling moth program that emails residents timely advice on when and how to treat fruit trees.[5]
Through the year
- Summer to Fall
- Winged Pacific dampwood termites leave established nests in swarms during late summer or fall, and OSU Extension says the flying termites are not cause for alarm.[1]
- Spring to Fall
- Adult ticks in Oregon are active mainly in spring and early summer, though they can also turn up in fall, per guidance shared by Deschutes County.[3]
Sources
- Oregon State University Extension Service, “Termites (Solve Pest Problems).” solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/insects-spiders/termites (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Deschutes County Health Services, “Mosquito Control.” www.deschutescounty.gov/796/Mosquito-Control (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Deschutes County Health Services, “Ticks and Tick Prevention.” www.deschutescounty.gov/773/Ticks-and-Tick-Prevention (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Deschutes County Health Services, “Animal Bites.” www.deschutescounty.gov/979/Animal-Bites (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oregon State University Extension Service, “Project Happy Apples.” extension.oregonstate.edu/es/newsletter/project-happy-apples (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oregon Department of Agriculture, “Pesticide License Requirements.” www.oregon.gov/oda/pesticides/licensing/Pages/license-requirements.aspx (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oregon Department of Agriculture, “Integrated Pest Management in Schools.” www.oregon.gov/oda/pesticides/regulatory-issues/Pages/IPM-schools.aspx (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oregon Health Authority, “West Nile Virus Surveillance.” www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/DISEASESCONDITIONS/DISEASESAZ/WESTNILEVIRUS/Pages/survey.aspx (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 97701 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/97701.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)