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Pests and pest control in Michigan

Pests to know in Michigan

Why each one matters here is cited in the sections below.

Pests documented in Michigan

From public GBIF occurrence records since 1990. A record means a species was documented in Michigan, not that it's common near you.

Many public records (723)

Fewer public records (141)

Range named by extension sources (3)

Invasive species reported here

  • Emerald ash borer is established in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and has been detected in the Upper Peninsula; the state no longer asks residents to report it.[2]
  • Spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper on Michigan's watch list, has been found in the state, and residents are asked to photograph, squish and report it.[3]

Pests local experts flag

  • Lyme disease is spreading across Michigan; several Upper Peninsula counties have well-established tick populations, and the tick and bacterium have been moving north along the Lake Michigan coast.[4]
  • West Nile virus is carried by certain mosquitoes in Michigan, and urban areas of southeast Lower Michigan (Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties) and Kent County have historically seen the most activity.[5]

Public agencies that handle pests

  • The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services runs the Michigan Emerging Diseases program, which tracks emerging and zoonotic diseases and publishes a weekly arbovirus summary of mosquito-borne virus activity.[6]
  • MDHHS identifies ticks free of charge for Michigan residents, who can submit a tick by mail or a photo by email.[4]

Hiring a licensed company

Michigan's pesticide regulatory agency is the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (Pesticide & Plant Pest Management Division).[1]

Licensing agency: Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development — Pesticide & Plant Pest Management Division[1].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Local guides in Michigan

Through the year

Summer
West Nile virus outbreaks have occurred in Michigan every summer since 2002.[5]

Sources

  1. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. Michigan Invasive Species Program, “Invasive Species: Emerald Ash Borer.” www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/insects/emerald-ash-borer (accessed 2026-10-06)
  3. Michigan Invasive Species Program, “Spotted Lanternfly.” www.michigan.gov/invasives/id-report/insects/spotted-lanternfly (accessed 2026-10-06)
  4. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, “Lyme Disease.” www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/home/lyme-disease (accessed 2026-10-06)
  5. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, “West Nile virus (WNV).” www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/home/west-nile (accessed 2026-10-06)
  6. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, “Michigan Emerging Diseases.” www.michigan.gov/emergingdiseases (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-06. Every statement on this page comes from the cited state, federal or university source. Spot an error? Tell us.