Pests to know in Portland
Termites in Portland
FHA lists Maine as a termite-treatment exception state, but not for Portland's county: termite treatment documentation is still required for new construction in Cumberland and York counties.[1]
Invasive species reported here
- Browntail moth is an invasive pest found only in Maine and on Cape Cod. Its caterpillars' toxic hairs cause a poison-ivy-like rash and can stay harmful for years.[2]
- All of Cumberland County, including Portland, lies inside Maine's emerald ash borer quarantine area, which limits moving ash wood and other regulated articles out of the zone.[4]
Climate
Central Portland (ZIP 04101) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6a, where the average coldest winter night is -10 to -5°F.[10]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Maine CDC counts about 45 mosquito species in the state, and roughly half can carry germs that sicken people, including EEE, West Nile and Jamestown Canyon viruses.[2]
- Of roughly 14 tick species in Maine, the deer tick and American dog tick are seen most often; deer ticks can carry Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus.[2]
- Maine CDC notes that American dog ticks, which spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever elsewhere, are not known to transmit it or tularemia in Maine.[2]
Local rules and responsibilities
- Portland's 2018 pesticide ordinance bans most synthetic pesticides for outdoor pest control and bars any pesticide within 75 feet of a water body or wetland.[5]
- Portland's ordinance still allows otherwise-banned pesticides for public-health pests like ticks and mosquitoes and for structural pests such as carpenter ants and termites.[6]
Hiring a licensed company
In Maine, anyone paid to apply pesticides, including home pest control, must hold a commercial applicator license from the Board of Pesticides Control.[7]
Free local help
Through the year
- Summer to Fall
- Maine CDC tests mosquitoes, animals and people for EEE and West Nile virus and posts weekly arboviral surveillance reports from July through September.[2]
- Winter to Fall
- Browntail caterpillars leave their winter webs to feed in mid-April, so Maine Forest Service says web clipping works only before then, ideally between October and March.[3]
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (FHA), “Termite Treatment Exception Areas.” www.hud.gov/sites/dfiles/SFH/documents/SFH_POLI_TERMITE.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Maine CDC (Maine DHHS), “Insect-borne Diseases.” www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/diseases-conditions/insect-borne-diseases (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Maine Forest Service (Maine DACF), “Browntail Moth Information.” www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/invasive_threats/browntail_moth_info.htm (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Maine Forest Service (Maine DACF), “Emerald Ash Borer.” www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/invasive_threats/eab/index.shtml (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Maine Board of Pesticides Control, “Municipal Ordinances.” www.maine.gov/dacf/php/pesticides/public/municipal_ordinances.shtml (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Portland, Maine (posted by Maine Board of Pesticides Control), “City of Portland Pesticide Ordinance (Chapter 34).” www1.maine.gov/DACF/php/pesticides/documents2/municipal%20ordinances/City_of_Portland_Pesticide_Ordinance_2018.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Maine Board of Pesticides Control, “Licensing and Certification.” www.maine.gov/dacf/php/pesticides/applicators/licensing.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, “Protect Yourself from Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases.” extension.umaine.edu/ticks/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab, “Tick-Borne Diseases.” extension.umaine.edu/ticks/tick-borne-diseases/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 04101 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/04101.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)