Pests and pest control in Chicago, IL

Pests to know in Chicago

• Subterranean termites
• Mosquito
• Spotted Lanternfly
• Emerald Ash Borer

Why each one matters here is cited in the sections below.

Termites in Chicago

University of Illinois Extension says finding winged termites, indoors or outdoors, is a red flag that a home should be inspected.^[1]

Invasive species reported here

• Experts confirmed a spotted lanternfly population in Cook County on September 18, 2023. This was the first documented case in Illinois.^[6]
• Emerald ash borer reached the Chicago area in 2006, and its adults fly in June looking for ash trees to lay eggs in.^[7]

Climate

Central Chicago (ZIP 60602) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6b, where the average coldest winter night is -5 to 0°F.^[9]

Public agencies that handle pests

• The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation takes rodent baiting requests through 311 or online and puts rodenticide in rat burrows.^[2]
• Streets and Sanitation investigates reported rat sightings, checks alley conditions and baits burrows.^[3]
• The Chicago Department of Public Health sets mosquito traps across the city and checks them twice a week during mosquito-breeding season to monitor West Nile virus.^[4]

Local rules and responsibilities

Under Chicago's bed bug ordinance, tenants must tell their landlord within 5 days of suspecting bed bugs, and landlords must arrange professional pest control.^[8]

Hiring a licensed company

The state pesticide regulatory agency for Illinois is the Illinois Department of Agriculture (Bureau of Environmental Programs), which oversees pesticide applicator certification and licensing.^[10]

Licensing agency: Illinois Department of Agriculture — Bureau of Environmental Programs^[10].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Free local help

University of Illinois Extension's Cook County unit has a Chicago South office on South Greenwood Avenue, alongside its suburban offices.^[5]

Through the year

Seasonal

By week 27 of 2025, Chicago had treated 71,000 public-way catch basins with larvicide to cut down on mosquito breeding.^[4]

Sources

1. University of Illinois Extension, “Swarming Insects this Season.” extension.illinois.edu/blogs/over-garden-fence/2019-06-05-swarming-insects-season (accessed 2026-10-06)
2. City of Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation, “Rodent Baiting.” www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/streets/provdrs/rodent/svcs/rodent_baiting.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
3. City of Chicago, “311 Service Requests - Rodent Baiting Requests.” www.chicago.gov/city/en/dataset/rodent_baiting.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
4. Chicago Department of Public Health, “CDPH Arboviral Report 2025 Week 27.” www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdph/Mosquito-Borne-Diseases/2025/CDPH_Arboviral-Report-2025-WK%2027.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
5. University of Illinois Extension, “Cook County Extension.” extension.illinois.edu/cook (accessed 2026-10-06)
6. University of Illinois Extension, “Report spotted lanternflies in Illinois to help slow the spread of invasive pest.” extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/report-spotted-lanternflies-illinois-help-slow-spread-invasive-pest (accessed 2026-10-06)
7. University of Illinois Extension, “Emerald ash borer continues spread through Illinois; Extension can help manage.” extension.illinois.edu/news-releases/emerald-ash-borer-continues-spread-through-illinois-extension-can-help-manage (accessed 2026-10-06)
8. Chicago Department of Public Health, “Bed Bug Brochure (Oct 31, 2013).” www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdph/environmental_health_and_food/BedBugBrochureOct312013.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
9. USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 60602 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/60602.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
10. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)