Pests in Oklahoma: Termites, Invasive Species, Ticks and Mosquitoes, Licensing and Free Help

Pests to know in Oklahoma

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

Pests documented in Oklahoma

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

Many public records (605)

Fewer public records (186)

Range named by extension sources (5)

Invasive species reported here

Red imported fire ants were first found in Oklahoma near Waurika in Jefferson County in 1985 and by 2007 had turned up in more than 40 counties; Oklahoma State University Extension reported 21 counties under quarantine in 2021.^[2][3]
Oklahoma State University Extension reports that emerald ash borer is now present in several Oklahoma counties.^[4]

Pests local experts flag

The lone star tick is the tick Oklahomans most commonly encounter during outdoor recreation.^[5]
Oklahoma has an estimated three to five scorpion species, but only one is common statewide, and scorpions often enter buildings when their outdoor habitat is disturbed.^[6]
Penn State Extension lists Oklahoma among the sixteen states where brown recluse spiders are established.^[9]

Public agencies that handle pests

The Oklahoma State Department of Health's Acute Disease Service covers tickborne and mosquitoborne illness; Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia and anaplasmosis are seen regularly in the state.^[7]
The Oklahoma State Department of Health lists West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis and Jamestown Canyon among mosquito-transmitted diseases.^[7]

Hiring a licensed company

Oklahoma's pesticide regulatory agency is the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry (Consumer Protection Services Division).^[1]

Licensing agency: Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry — Consumer Protection Services Division^[1].

Free local help

OSU's Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory identifies household pests such as ants, termites, scorpions and spiders; home gardeners start by sending photos to their county Extension educator.^[8]

Local guides in Oklahoma

Through the year

Spring to Fall: In Oklahoma the lone star tick is active from early spring to late fall, while the American dog tick is most active in spring and early summer.^[5]

Sources

National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
Oklahoma State University Extension, “Red Imported Fire Ant (Digital Diagnostics).” extension.okstate.edu/programs/digital-diagnostics/insects-and-arthropods/red-imported-fire-ant-solenopsis-invicta (accessed 2026-10-17)
Oklahoma State University Extension, “Safeguard against imported fire ants when selling hay (July 16, 2021).” extension.okstate.edu/articles/2021/stotts-fire-ants.html (accessed 2026-10-17)
Oklahoma State University Extension, “Emerald Ash Borer in Oklahoma What to Look for and What to Know.” extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/emerald-ash-borer-in-oklahoma-what-to-look-for-and-what-to-know (accessed 2026-10-06)
Oklahoma State University Extension, “Common Ticks of Oklahoma and Tick-Borne Diseases.” extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/common-ticks-of-oklahoma-and-tick-borne-diseases (accessed 2026-10-06)
Oklahoma State University Extension, “Scorpions.” extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/scorpions (accessed 2026-10-06)
Oklahoma State Department of Health, “Tickborne and Mosquito Borne Illness.” oklahoma.gov/health/health-education/acute-disease-service/tickborne-and-mosquitoborne-diseases.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
Oklahoma State University Extension, “Plant Disease & Insect Diagnostic Laboratory | Oklahoma State University.” extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/plant-disease-insect-diagnostic-laboratory (accessed 2026-10-06)
Penn State Extension, “Brown Recluse Spiders.” extension.psu.edu/brown-recluse-spiders (accessed 2026-10-06)