Pests to know in Tulsa
Mosquito · American Dog Tick · Subterranean termites · Emerald Ash Borer
Termites in Tulsa
Oklahoma State University rates termite pressure from very heavy in southeastern Oklahoma to moderate-to-heavy elsewhere, easing farther north and west.[2]
Invasive species reported here
Emerald ash borer was first confirmed in Oklahoma in Delaware County, northeast of Tulsa, on October 12, 2016.[5]
Pests local experts flag
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis are the most common tick-borne diseases reported in Oklahoma, linked mainly to American dog ticks and lone star ticks.[1]
- The three most common cockroaches in Oklahoma are German, American and Oriental; in Tulsa rentals, property managers are expected to provide pest control.[1]
Climate
Central Tulsa (ZIP 74103) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7b, where the average coldest winter night is 5 to 10°F.[7]
Public agencies that handle pests
- The Tulsa Health Department traps mosquitoes across Tulsa County and tests samples weekly for West Nile virus.[1]
- Tulsa County residents can request a mosquito surveillance inspection, which may include a trap at their home, by calling 918-595-4200 or filing online.[1]
- THD's Rodent Abatement Program surveys properties and adjoining lots for rats and, with permission, can bait exterior residential premises.[1]
Local rules and responsibilities
Oklahoma rules require structural pest control contracts to include a statement, plat or diagram showing visible termites and termite-damaged materials and how the application was performed.[4]
Hiring a licensed company
Oklahoma licenses termite work under category 7b, Structural Pest Control, while category 7a General Pest Control excludes termites and other wood-destroying organisms.[4]
Free local help
The OSU Extension Tulsa County Center at 4116 East 15th Street offers Master Gardener help and a Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostics Lab.[6]
Through the year
- Spring to Summer
- THD works to control mosquito populations during spring and summer, and in a typical season sprays hundreds of square miles for adult mosquitoes, usually after sunset.[1]
- Spring to Fall
- Oklahoma subterranean termites usually swarm on warm spring days, sometimes in fall, though OSU says swarmers have been recorded in every month in Oklahoma.[3]
Sources
- Tulsa Health Department, “Pest Control.” tulsa-health.org/services/public-safety-and-data-services/pest-control/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, “Choosing a Pest Management Company to Protect Your Home Against Termites (EPP-7308).” pods.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/EPP-7308pod2014.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oklahoma State University Extension, “Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes sp.).” extension.okstate.edu/programs/digital-diagnostics/insects-and-arthropods/subterranean-termite-reticulitermes-sp/index.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, “Combined Pesticide Manual.” ag.ok.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024-Combined-Pesticide-Manual-Final.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, “Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Three Oklahoma Counties.” ag.ok.gov/emerald-ash-borer-confirmed-in-three-oklahoma-counties/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- Oklahoma State University Extension, Tulsa County, “OSU Extension Tulsa County.” extension.okstate.edu/county/tulsa/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
- USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 74103 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/74103.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
- National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)