Free for homeowners
Pest control in Michigan
What are the most common pests in this state, and who handles them?
Pest control in Michigan is a cold-climate problem. Carpenter ants follow roof, gutter and sill moisture, mouse entry is heavy statewide each fall, and cluster flies overwinter in attics and wall voids. PestChief's free matching connects a Michigan homeowner with one local pest control company that handles the pest.
Where can you read about each pest?
Pest pressure here is shaped by climate, geography and housing stock, so it varies across the state. The notable issues for this state are set out on this page. For how each pest is identified, what the signs look like and what treatment usually involves, read the pest guides.
What is the climate like here?
Climate is the biggest single driver of which pests live here and how long their season runs.
Which pest issues stand out here?
- Carpenter ants in homes with roof, gutter and sill moisture problems
- Eastern subterranean termites limited mainly to southern Michigan
- Heavy fall mouse entry across the state
- Cluster flies and boxelder bugs overwintering in attics and wall voids
Which pests are active in each season?
Activity shifts through the year, so the pest worth treating in March is rarely the one worth treating in August.
Which pests are active in spring?
Which pests are active in summer?
Which pests are active in fall?
Which pests are active in winter?
How does pest pressure vary by region?
Pest pressure is not uniform across a state. Elevation, humidity, soil and the age of the housing stock all change which pests appear and when.
Which regions of the state face which pests?
When do termites swarm in each region?
Is your ZIP code in Michigan covered?
PestChief is free to the homeowner. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code, not state by state. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company, and it contacts you directly.
What licensing should you ask a company for?
Licensing is the one check a homeowner can make before any work starts. Every state requires a pest control company to hold a license, and most require a separate certification for specialty work such as termite treatment. Ask for the license number, confirm it covers the pest you have, and check it with the state agency that issues it.
What does this state require of a licensed company?
What else should you know about this state?
A few state specific details that change how pest control works here, and what they mean for a homeowner.
Which metro areas are covered?
Coverage varies inside a state, not only between states. A company that covers one metro area may not cover a rural ZIP code two counties away, and the pests it is licensed to treat can differ as well. The metro areas listed here are where PestChief most often has a company to introduce you to. If your city is not listed, a ZIP code check is still worth doing.
What do homeowners ask most?
What pests are most common in Michigan?
Most Michigan pest calls involve ants, cockroaches, spiders, wasps and hornets, mosquitoes and rodents, and the cold climate shapes all of them:
- Carpenter ants in homes with roof, gutter and sill moisture problems
- Eastern subterranean termites limited mainly to southern Michigan
- Heavy fall mouse entry across the state
- Cluster flies and boxelder bugs overwintering in attics and wall voids
When is pest season in Michigan?
Pest season in Michigan is bracketed by the cold: insects re-emerge in spring and everything moves indoors in fall.
Spring: Carpenter ants become active; overwintering insects re-emerge indoors. Summer: Mosquito and wasp pressure peaks near water and woodland. Fall: Strong rodent and overwintering insect movement indoors. Winter: Indoor mouse and pantry pest activity through the deep cold.
Who licenses pest control companies in Michigan?
In Michigan, applicators are certified by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, which also licenses commercial structural firms. Ask for the technician's Michigan certification as well as the firm's license.
How much does pest control cost in Michigan?
As orientation, national published estimates are: single visit about $171 (This Old House national average), one time treatment program $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor), recurring plan $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) per year. Michigan's seasonal pattern, carpenter ants and mice more than termites, is priced by the company that inspects your home. These are not PestChief quotes.
Does Michigan have termites?
Yes, but eastern subterranean termites in Michigan are limited mainly to the southern part of the state. Across most of Michigan the structural wood problem is carpenter ants, which follow roof, gutter and sill moisture. If you are north of the southern tier, winged insects in spring are worth identifying before assuming termites.
Does PestChief cover Michigan?
Detroit is PestChief's covered Michigan metro. Coverage is checked at ZIP code level, not state level, so use the locations finder with your own ZIP code; each independent company sets its own boundaries. A match sends your request to exactly one local pest control company that covers the ZIP code and handles the pest, and that company reaches out directly.
Where does this information come from?
Seasonality and pest biology
- US EPA, Integrated Pest Management principles
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Home and Landscape pests
- US EPA, Safe Pest Control
- Penn State Extension
Pricing
National estimates from published industry sources. Not PestChief quotes.
Licensing
Licensing is administered by Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Ready to get this handled?
It costs the homeowner nothing. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company. It contacts you directly, and it sets its own price.
What should you check before you hire?
Every state we cover
Browse the full list of states and metro areas, and check whether your area is covered.
Pests, one by one
Identification, signs of an infestation and what to do first, for each pest we cover.
What pest control costs
National ranges by treatment type, with the basis for each figure stated plainly.
Season by season
Which pests get active when, and the months worth acting in before a problem grows.
Learn the basics
Plain explanations of treatments, prevention and the questions worth asking a company.
How PestChief works
We match a homeowner with one independent local pest control company. Here is what happens.