Pests to know in Provo
Mosquito · Non-Biting Midges · Western Drywood Termite · Subterranean termites · Japanese Beetle
Termites in Provo
USU Extension says subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites can all be found in Utah. Reticulitermes hesperus is the most common, and termites are most common in the southern counties.[5]
Invasive species reported here
In 2006 an Orem resident found a Japanese beetle in her garden and reported it to UDAF, which launched an extensive trapping effort.[6]
Pests local experts flag
Midge flies are common near Utah Lake and around Utah County, but the county's mosquito control service handles mosquitoes only, not midges.[2]
Climate
Central Provo (ZIP 84601) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, where the average coldest winter night is 0 to 5°F.[10]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Utah County mosquito spraying usually happens Monday through Thursday evenings after sundown, with no spraying on weekends or holidays. Residents can file service or no-spray requests.[2]
- Utah County places sentinel mosquito traps at sites including Provo Bay, Inlet Park, and Goshen Elementary, locations that have historically turned up West Nile-infected mosquitoes.[3]
- Utah's health department calls West Nile virus the most common disease acquired in Utah, averaging 17 reported human cases a year over ten years.[4]
Local rules and responsibilities
Provo City Code declares accumulated weeds, garbage, excess pet food, or refuse a nuisance when it provides harborage for rats, other rodents, or other disease carriers.[8]
Hiring a licensed company
Utah requires a Commercial Pesticide Business License for any business that applies pesticides commercially, even simple jobs like spot-treating weeds after mowing.[7]
Free local help
USU Extension's Utah County office in Orem offers garden-based services including a Garden Help Desk and a diagnostics lab.[9]
Through the year
- Summer to Fall
- Utah County's mosquito abatement program says summer spraying usually starts after Memorial Day and typically ends in mid-September.[1]
- Summer
- Utah County starts aerial mosquito spraying once traps reach 1,000 Culex mosquitoes, which typically happens in late June or early July.[3]
- Spring
- USU Extension notes homeowners rarely notice subterranean termite feeding damage, but they do see winged swarmers in spring, plus mud tubes or frass.[5]
Sources
- Utah County Health Department, “Mosquito Abatement.” health.utahcounty.gov/mosquito-abatement/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Utah County Health Department, “Service Request and No Spray Request.” health.utahcounty.gov/mosquito-abatement/service-request-2/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Utah County Health Department, “Intervention Thresholds.” health.utahcounty.gov/intervention-thresholds/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Utah Department of Health and Human Services, “2025 West Nile Virus Annual Report.” files.epi.utah.gov/2025_WNV_AnnualReport.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Utah State University Extension, “Subterranean Termites (ENT-08-08).” extension.usu.edu/pests/uppdl/files/factsheet/sub-termites09.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, “Japanese Beetle Eradication.” ag.utah.gov/plant-industry/insect-and-pest/japanese-beetle-eradication/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, “Commercial Pesticide Business License.” ag.utah.gov/pesticides/pesticide-licenses/commercial-pesticide-business-license/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Provo City, “Provo City Code 7.02.050.” provo.municipal.codes/Code/7.02.050 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Utah State University Extension, “USU Extension Utah County Office.” extension.usu.edu/utah/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 84601 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/84601.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)