Pests to know in Syracuse
Termites in Syracuse
FHA's termite treatment exception list for new construction exempts only Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Niagara and Orleans counties in New York; treatment is required in any other county.[5]
Invasive species reported here
CCE Onondaga notes several spotted lanternfly populations have been found in New York and asks people to email photos and locations to the state agriculture department.[9]
Pests local experts flag
The county's aerial mosquito spraying focuses on the Cicero Swamp, because truck spraying around the swamp's edge can't reach deep enough into the woods.[2]
Climate
Central Syracuse (ZIP 13202) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6a, where the average coldest winter night is -10 to -5°F.[11]
Public agencies that handle pests
- Onondaga County Health Department staff maintain mosquito traps at 19 sites across the county and collect from them weekly.[1]
- Trapped Onondaga County mosquitoes go to the state health department for virus testing, and West Nile virus and EEE are of particular local concern.[1]
- Onondaga County asks residents to report dead crows, blue jays and other perching birds; they are tested at Upstate Medical University's Thangamani Lab for mosquito-borne viruses.[3]
- Onondaga County Environmental Health handles rodent complaint investigations and monitors and baits sewers.[4]
- New York State Department of Health records show 12 people in the state were diagnosed with EEE from 1971 through 2024, and 7 of them died.[10]
Hiring a licensed company
In New York, every business location offering commercial pesticide application must register with the DEC and employ a certified applicator or technician in each category it works in.[7]
Free local help
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County refers insect questions about homes and gardens to Cornell's Insect Diagnostic Lab, which identifies mailed specimens or emailed photos.[8]
Through the year
Sources
- Onondaga County Health Department, “Mosquito Surveillance and Data.” onondaga.gov/health-env/mosquito-data/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Onondaga County Health Department, “Mosquito Spraying FAQ.” onondaga.gov/health-env/mosquito-spraying-faq/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Onondaga County Health Department, “Dead Bird Surveillance.” onondaga.gov/health-env/dead-bird-surveillance/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Onondaga County Health Department, “Health – Rodents.” onondaga.gov/health-env/rodents/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- 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)
- Cornell University – New York State Integrated Pest Management, “Termites.” cals.cornell.edu/integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/whats-bugging-you/termites (accessed 2026-10-06)
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, “Business and Agency Registration.” dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/pesticides/business-agency-information (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, “Gardening.” cceonondaga.org/gardening (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, “Spotted Lanternfly.” cceonondaga.org/environment/invasive-nuisance-species/spotted-lantern-fly (accessed 2026-10-06)
- New York State Department of Health, “Eastern Equine Encephalitis.” www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/eastern_equine_encephalitis/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 13202 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/13202.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)