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Pests and pest control in North Dakota

Pests to know in North Dakota

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

Pests documented in North Dakota

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

Many public records (98)

Fewer public records (191)

Range named by extension sources (5)

Invasive species reported here

  • The North Dakota Department of Agriculture reports emerald ash borer detections in LaMoure, Cass and Burleigh counties.[2]
  • North Dakota has trapped for Japanese beetles since the early 1960s, has detected them every year since 2012, and has had an established population in Grand Forks since 2022.[3]

Pests local experts flag

  • The American dog tick and the blacklegged (deer) tick are the most common ticks in North Dakota.[4]
  • NDSU Extension describes boxelder bugs as fairly harmless home invaders that do not breed indoors, bite or eat food, and are simply looking for a warm place to spend the winter.[5]

Public agencies that handle pests

  • The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services runs tick surveillance and asks residents to watch for unusual ticks and email in pictures for identification.[7]
  • Alpha-gal syndrome, a red-meat allergy linked to tick bites, became a reportable condition in North Dakota in 2024.[4]

Hiring a licensed company

North Dakota's pesticide regulatory agency is the North Dakota Department of Agriculture (Pesticide & Fertilizer Division).[1]

Licensing agency: North Dakota Department of Agriculture — Pesticide & Fertilizer Division[1].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Free local help

The NDSU Plant Diagnostic Lab identifies insects for the public from physical samples or digital images, and NDSU Extension has an office in every county to help identify pest issues.[8]

Local guides in North Dakota

Through the year

Summer
After summer ends, boxelder bugs seek heat and gather on the south- and west-facing sides of homes; the problem ends after a few hard frosts.[5]
Spring to Summer
Ticks in North Dakota are most active in spring and summer, though tick-borne diseases can be acquired at any time of year.[6]

Sources

  1. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. North Dakota Department of Agriculture, “Emerald Ash Borer | North Dakota Department of Agriculture.” www.ndda.nd.gov/eab (accessed 2026-10-06)
  3. North Dakota Department of Agriculture, “Pest Survey.” www.ndda.nd.gov/divisions/plant-industries/pest-survey (accessed 2026-10-06)
  4. North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, “Diseases That Can Be Transmitted By Ticks.” www.hhs.nd.gov/health/diseases-conditions-and-immunization/tickborne/diseases-can-be-transmitted-ticks (accessed 2026-10-06)
  5. NDSU Extension, “Managing a Boxelder Swarm | NDSU Agriculture.” www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/extension-topics/gardening-and-horticulture/trees-and-shrubs/managing-boxelder-swarm (accessed 2026-10-06)
  6. North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, “Tickborne Diseases | Health and Human Services North Dakota.” www.hhs.nd.gov/health/diseases-conditions-and-immunization/tickborne (accessed 2026-10-06)
  7. North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, “Tick Surveillance | Health and Human Services North Dakota.” www.hhs.nd.gov/health/diseases-conditions-and-immunization/tickborne/tick-surveillance (accessed 2026-10-06)
  8. North Dakota State University, “Plant and Insect Identification.” www.ndsu.edu/plant-pathology-microbiology-biotechnology/plant-diagnostic-lab/services-and-fees/plant-and-insect (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.