Pests to know in Scranton
Termites in Scranton
Penn State Extension says eastern subterranean termites are present throughout Pennsylvania and often damage structural timbers in buildings.[5]
Invasive species reported here
Pests local experts flag
Scranton officials note that ticks occur in urban, suburban and rural settings, typically in shrubs, weeds, leaf litter and tall grasses.[1]
Climate
Central Scranton (ZIP 18503) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6b, where the average coldest winter night is -5 to 0°F.[11]
Public agencies that handle pests
- A City of Scranton public health release points residents to the Pennsylvania Tick Research Lab at East Stroudsburg University, which offers free tick testing to Pennsylvania residents.[1]
- In Lackawanna County, the state's Black Fly Suppression Program treats the North Branch Susquehanna River.[2]
- Pennsylvania DEP funds local mosquito control programs to survey ticks from April through August, with a focus on nymphal blacklegged ticks.[4]
Local rules and responsibilities
Scranton's Bureau of Code Enforcement, which enforces building and property codes, directs residents to report quality-of-life concerns through Scranton 311.[10]
Hiring a licensed company
Pennsylvania's pesticide hypersensitivity registry requires pesticide businesses to notify registered people of applications planned within 500 feet of their home, work or school.[9]
Free local help
Penn State Extension counts at least 25 tick species in Pennsylvania, and just two of them make up more than 90 percent of tick identification requests sent to Penn State.[6]
Through the year
- Spring to Summer
- Pennsylvania's Black Fly Suppression Program aims to cut adult black fly (gnat) numbers to tolerable levels during the spring and summer recreational season.[3]
- Winter to Summer
- Swarms of winged termites in Pennsylvania usually emerge between February and June, according to Penn State Extension.[5]
Sources
- City of Scranton, “Scranton and State Officials Warn About Tick Season.” scrantonpa.gov/scranton-and-state-officials-warn-about-tick-season/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, “Black Fly: Treated Streams.” www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/bureau-of-labs/vector-management/black-fly/treated-streams (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, “Black Fly.” www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/bureau-of-labs/vector-management/black-fly (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, “Tick Surveillance and Testing.” www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/bureau-of-labs/vector-management/ticks (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Penn State Extension, “Eastern Subterranean Termites.” extension.psu.edu/eastern-subterranean-termites (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Penn State Extension, “Common Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases in Pennsylvania.” extension.psu.edu/common-ticks-and-tick-borne-diseases-in-pennsylvania (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, “Asian Longhorned tick.” www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/bureau-of-labs/vector-management/ticks/asian-longhorned-tick (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Penn State Extension, “Spotted Lanternfly: What to Look For.” extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-what-to-look-for (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, “Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry.” www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/plants-land-water/plant-industry/pesticide-programs/pesticide-hypersensitivity-registry (accessed 2026-10-06)
- City of Scranton, “Code Enforcement.” scrantonpa.gov/your-government/oecd/code/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 18503 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/18503.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)