Des Moines, Iowa Pest Guide
Des Moines is Iowa's capital and most populous city, named after the Des Moines River. It is the county seat of Polk County, and parts of the city south of County Line Road extend into Warren County. The six-county Des Moines metro is the largest metro area entirely within Iowa.
This page pulls together the pest issues Des Moines homeowners tend to run into, local places to get help, and how to check that a pest company holds a current Iowa license.
Des Moines pest calendar
Pest timing in Iowa follows the seasons. Here is what Iowa State University (ISU) Extension describes, in roughly the order Des Moines homeowners will notice it:
- Spring: ant mounds. ISU says soil-nesting ants are especially busy in wet spring weather. Raking or hosing mounds flat is usually all that is needed. ISU notes fire ants are not present in Iowa. See how to get rid of ants in Iowa.
- Summer: wasps build up. Each yellowjacket colony starts with one queen in spring and grows all summer. ISU says nests peak around Iowa State Fair time, with up to about 5,000 wasps. See wasp nest removal.
- Fall: accidental invaders. Boxelder bugs, multicolored Asian lady beetles and brown marmorated stink bugs look for winter shelter. ISU calls them generally harmless and says sealing gaps is the best defense.
- Fall and winter: mice. ISU says native deer mice and white-footed mice move indoors in fall. See mice in your Iowa home this fall.
Emerald ash borer in Polk County
The state's list of officially confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) sites, last updated at the end of 2022, includes these Polk County locations: Des Moines (2016); Windsor Heights (2016). In October 2024, IDALS announced that EAB had been confirmed in all 99 Iowa counties. IDALS says an infested tree is typically killed within two to four years. Signs include canopy thinning, leafy sprouts from the trunk, S-shaped galleries under the bark, bark splitting, woodpecker damage and 1/8-inch D-shaped exit holes. If you own ash trees, get advice from a qualified tree care professional.
Local help in Des Moines
- County Extension office: ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County lists its office at 1625 Adventureland Drive, Ste. A, Altoona, IA 50009 (phone 515-957-5760). Extension offices are a good first stop for research-based yard, garden and pest information.
- Insect identification: the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic in Ames identifies insects mailed in by Iowans. Check its page for current forms and fees.
- Ticks: ISU's Medical Entomology Laboratory offers a free tick identification service by mail. It identifies the tick but does not test it for disease.
- Mosquitoes: the same ISU lab has run Iowa's mosquito surveillance program for about 50 years with state health partners, monitoring West Nile virus and mosquito numbers. Current data is on the Iowa Mosquito Surveillance website linked from its page.
Guides for Des Moines homeowners
- Ant Exterminator Near Waukee: What to Expect and How to Choose a Pro
- Bed Bug Signs and What to Do in the Des Moines Metro
- Boxelder Bugs in Iowa Homes
- How to Get Rid of Ants in Iowa
- Mice in Your Iowa Home This Fall
- Wasp Nest Removal Near Waukee, Iowa
How to check a pest company's license in Des Moines
Iowa requires anyone in the business of applying pesticides to another person's property to be licensed and certified by the state. To check a company:
- Open the IDALS license lookup and choose Search By Company/License.
- Type part of the company's name, or pick the county POLK - 77 to see every company registered there.
- Check that the expiration date is in the future. Expiration dates in the lookup fall on December 31.
When we searched Polk County on 10/21/2026, the lookup returned more than 600 company records. That count includes every license type (lawn care, agriculture, golf courses and pest control) and some expired records, so narrow it down by name. A company is listed under the county of its own address, so a company that serves Des Moines may be listed under a neighboring county. Our guide on choosing a licensed pest pro has a checklist of questions to ask.
Local pest pros in Des Moines
Aptive Pest Control (Ankeny branch)
Ankeny · 1-515-417-1185
6864 NE 14th St, Ste 3, Ankeny, IA 50023
National pest control company with an Ankeny branch; its Waukee page lists ants, crickets, earwigs, flies, mosquitoes, rodents, spiders and stinging pests.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Spiders, Mosquitoes, Mice & rodents, Wasps & stinging insects
Service area (their words): Its Waukee page lists Adel, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights and other towns.
IDALS company license record found (10085-001, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 10085-001: Aptive Environmental, Ankeny (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31. Record is under the name 'Aptive Environmental' at the same city as the branch.
Listing source: https://aptivepestcontrol.com/locations/iowa-ia/waukee-pest-control/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Bobcat Wildlife & Pest Management
Adel · (515) 822-4348
816 Cottage St, Adel, IA 50003
Adel-based company (since 2008, per its site) offering wildlife and rodent control plus insect services for ants, bees, wasps, hornets, cockroaches, mosquitoes, spiders and ticks.
Services listed on their site: Wildlife, Mice & rodents, Ants, Wasps & stinging insects, Cockroaches, Mosquitoes, Spiders, Ticks, General pest control
Service area (their words): Service-area page lists Adel, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Dallas Center, De Soto, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Panora, Van Meter, Waukee and West Des Moines.
IDALS company license record found (08168-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 08168-000: BOBCAT WILDLIFE & PEST MNGMT, Adel (Dallas County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.bobcatpest.com/, https://www.bobcatpest.com/service-area/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Critter Control of Des Moines
Des Moines · (515) 287-0419
Independently owned franchise of a national wildlife company; lists wildlife removal and exclusion, rodent, mosquito and pest control services.
Services listed on their site: Wildlife, Mice & rodents, Mosquitoes, General pest control
Service area (their words): Office page lists Adel, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Des Moines, Grimes, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and other towns.
IDALS company license record found (04956-001, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 04956-001: CRITTER CONTROL OF DES MOINES, Des Moines (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.crittercontrol.com/office-finder/iowa/des-moines/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Des Moines Pest Control
Urbandale · 515-278-6785
14302 Oakwood Dr., Urbandale, IA 50323
Family-owned company (since 1974, per its site) offering residential and commercial control of ants, carpenter ants, spiders, mice, wasps, hornets, yellowjackets and other insects.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Spiders, Mice & rodents, Wasps & stinging insects, Commercial
Service area (their words): Lists Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Granger, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
IDALS company license record found (01467-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 01467-000: DES MOINES PEST CONTROL & TURF TONIC INC, Urbandale (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://desmoinespest.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Fenix Pest Control
Ankeny · 515-310-9990
1410 SE Cortina Dr., Ankeny, IA 50021 (also 2501 Westown Parkway #1103, West Des Moines, IA 50266)
Regional company with Ankeny and West Des Moines branches; lists ants, bees and wasps, boxelder bugs and other pests.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Wasps & stinging insects, Boxelder/stink bugs & beetles
Service area (their words): Lists Ankeny, West Des Moines and Des Moines.
IDALS company license record found (09259-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 09259-000: FENIX PEST CONTROL INC., Ankeny (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://fenixpestcontrol.com/iowa/pest-control-ankeny-iowa/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Fox Pest Control (Ankeny)
Ankeny · (515) 582-8077
6864 NE 14th Street Suite 1, Ankeny, IA 50021
Multi-state pest control company with an Ankeny office; lists ants, spiders, ticks, cockroaches, termites, rodents and mosquitoes.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Spiders, Ticks, Cockroaches, Termites, Mice & rodents, Mosquitoes
Service area (their words): Its Ankeny page names Ankeny and Des Moines.
License not confirmed by us (checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS lookup searched by company name on 2026-10-21. No Ankeny record under 'Fox Pest'. A record 11412-001 'FDS - Des Moines, IA LLC' (Ankeny) exists and Fox's Iowa City license uses an 'FDS ... DBA Fox Pest Control' name, but the Ankeny record does not say Fox, so we did not treat it as confirmed.
Listing source: https://fox-pest.com/locations/iowa/ankeny/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Genuine Wildlife Control
Des Moines · 515-985-0772
Des Moines-area wildlife removal company (serving since 2021, per its site) handling bats, raccoons, squirrels and birds.
Services listed on their site: Wildlife
Service area (their words): Des Moines area; the site mentions Grimes, West Des Moines and Ankeny.
No matching IDALS license record found by name (checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS lookup searched by company name on 2026-10-21. No matching record found searching 'Genuine Wildlife' or 'Genuine' (the only 'Genuine' record is a different company in Treynor). Wildlife removal that does not use pesticides may not need this license — ask the company.
Listing source: https://genuinewildlifecontrol.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Hawkeye Exterminators
West Des Moines · 515-250-9442
3775 EP True Pkwy #105, West Des Moines, IA 50265
Central Iowa company offering pest control, bed bug and termite services (including real-estate termite inspections), bat and rodent work, and commercial service.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Bed bugs, Termites, Mice & rodents, Wildlife, Commercial
Service area (their words): Lists Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Knoxville, Newton, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and other central Iowa towns.
IDALS company license record found (01752-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 01752-000: HAWKEYE EXTERMINATORS, Knoxville (Marion County), expiration 2026-12-31. Exact name match; the license address is Knoxville, and the company's site also lists a Knoxville-area phone line.
Listing source: https://www.hawkeyeexterminators.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Janssen Pest Solutions
Urbandale · 515-223-0269
10552 Justin Dr., Urbandale, IA 50322
Family-owned company based in Urbandale offering residential and commercial pest control, including termite, rodent, bed bug, mosquito and stinging insect services.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Termites, Mice & rodents, Bed bugs, Mosquitoes, Wasps & stinging insects, Commercial
Service area (their words): Locations listed on its site include Altoona, Ankeny, Carlisle, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
IDALS company license record found (02390-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 02390-000: JANSSEN PEST SOLUTIONS INC, Urbandale (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://janssenpest.com/services/pest-control/waukee-ia (checked 2026-10-21).
Midwest Pest Control (Ankeny)
Ankeny · 402-524-5200
1479 NE 69th Place #82, Ankeny, IA 50021
Regional company with an Ankeny office; lists ants, flies, cockroaches, bees and wasps, centipedes, spiders, mosquitoes, rodents and earwigs.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Cockroaches, Wasps & stinging insects, Spiders, Mosquitoes, Mice & rodents
Service area (their words): Iowa areas listed include Adel, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.
IDALS company license record found (11523-001, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 11523-001: Midwest Pest Control, Ankeny (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://midwestpest.com/pest-control-ankeny (checked 2026-10-21).
Miller Pest Solutions (Clive office)
Clive · (402) 769-0997
1904 NW 92nd Ct., Clive, IA 50325
Midwest pest control company (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) with a Clive office; lists residential and commercial pest, termite, mosquito, rodent and mole/vole services.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Wasps & stinging insects, Bed bugs, Mice & rodents, Termites, Mosquitoes, Cockroaches, Spiders, Boxelder/stink bugs & beetles, Commercial
Service area (their words): Its Waukee page lists Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Council Bluffs, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Prairie City, Urbandale, Waukee and Winterset.
License not confirmed by us (checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS lookup searched by company name on 2026-10-21. No record under 'Miller Pest Solutions'. A record 04889-000 'MILLER PEST AND TERMITE, LLC' (Clive, exp. 2026-12-31) exists, but the name differs from the company's site name ('Miller Pest Solutions LLC'), so we did not treat it as confirmed.
Listing source: https://www.millerthekiller.com/pest-control-waukee-ia/, https://www.millerthekiller.com/pest-control-council-bluffs-ia/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Orkin (Urbandale branch)
Urbandale · 515-380-7871
2929 99th St, Urbandale, IA 50322
National company's Urbandale branch; lists bed bugs, carpenter ants, stinging insects, wildlife, ticks, termites, mosquitoes and other pests.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Bed bugs, Ants, Wasps & stinging insects, Wildlife, Ticks, Termites, Mosquitoes, Commercial
Service area (their words): Branch page lists Adel, Altoona, Ames, Ankeny, Clive, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and other towns.
IDALS company license record found (02000-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 02000-000: ORKIN, Urbandale (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.orkin.com/locations/iowa-ia/urbandale-pest-control/branch-527 (checked 2026-10-21).
Polk County Wildlife & Pest Control
Des Moines area · 641-425-9798
Wildlife removal company (raccoons, bats, squirrels and other animals) that also lists general pest control.
Services listed on their site: Wildlife, Mice & rodents, General pest control
Service area (their words): Typical service area listed: Des Moines, Ankeny, Polk City, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, Clive, Waukee, West Des Moines, Altoona, Pleasant Hill and Bondurant.
No matching IDALS license record found by name (checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS lookup searched by company name on 2026-10-21. No matching company record found searching 'Polk County Wildlife' or 'Polk County' (only county government records). The site says it is licensed; we could not confirm this. Wildlife work that does not use pesticides may not need this license — ask the company.
Listing source: https://www.polkcountywildlife.com/services (checked 2026-10-21).
Preferred Pest Control
Urbandale · (515) 276-7277
3400 100th St, Urbandale, IA 50322 (also 1410 SE Cortina Dr Suite 102, Ankeny, IA 50021)
Des Moines-metro company with Urbandale and Ankeny offices; lists ants, bed bugs, bees and wasps, mosquitoes, rodents, spiders, termites, ticks and commercial service.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Bed bugs, Wasps & stinging insects, Mosquitoes, Mice & rodents, Spiders, Termites, Ticks, Commercial
Service area (their words): Des Moines metro, with offices in Urbandale and Ankeny.
IDALS company license record found (02158-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 02158-000: PREFERRED PEST CONTROL, INC., Urbandale (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.preferredpest.com/about-us/locations (checked 2026-10-21).
Spidexx Pest Control (Des Moines)
Des Moines · (515) 200-2668
Regional company with a Des Moines-area location; lists pest, rodent, mosquito, termite and bed bug services.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Mice & rodents, Mosquitoes, Termites, Bed bugs
Service area (their words): Its Des Moines page lists Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Waukee and Johnston.
IDALS company license record found (08841-001, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 08841-001: SPIDEXX PEST CONTROL, Urbandale (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.spidexx.com/locations/des-moines-ia (checked 2026-10-21).
Terminix (Des Moines branch)
Des Moines · (515) 251-1342
1320 NE 60th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50313
National company's Des Moines branch; lists general pest control, termites, bed bugs and other services.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Termites, Bed bugs, Mice & rodents, Commercial
Service area (their words): Greater Des Moines area (no individual towns listed).
IDALS company license record found (01052-000, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 01052-000: TERMINIX INTERNATIONAL CO L.P., Des Moines (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.terminix.com/exterminators/ia/des-moines-pest-control/, https://www.terminix.com/exterminators/ia/des-moines-2052/ (checked 2026-10-21).
The Bug Man
Des Moines · 515-285-6900
Family-owned Des Moines company (since 2001, per its site) offering residential and commercial pest control plus bed bug, mosquito, rodent, termite, wasp/hornet and wildlife services.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Bed bugs, Mosquitoes, Mice & rodents, Termites, Wasps & stinging insects, Wildlife, Commercial
Service area (their words): Des Moines and Central Iowa (no individual towns listed).
IDALS company license record found (04585-001, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), 'Search By Company/License', searched by company name on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 04585-001: BUG MAN, THE, Des Moines (Polk County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.thebugmaniowa.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Yardline Pest Control
Central Iowa · (515) 735-3585
Central Iowa company offering residential and commercial perimeter pest control.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Mice & rodents, Commercial
Service area (their words): Central Iowa; its homepage names Ankeny, Des Moines, Grimes, Johnston, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines and Bondurant.
IDALS company license record found (11205-001, checked 2026-10-21)
How we checked
IDALS pesticide company lookup (https://agriculture-iowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/lookup), searched by company name and by county on 2026-10-21. Found active company license 11205-001: Yardline Pest Control, LLC, Huxley (Story County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://yardlinepest.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
See all 52 listed companies by town →
Listings are informational, not endorsements or rankings, and no company paid to be listed. Details come from each company’s own website. Always verify an Iowa pesticide license with IDALS before hiring. Companies can request a correction or removal.
Is your business missing or wrong? Contact us with your website and the towns you serve.
Frequently asked questions
What county is Des Moines in?
Des Moines is the county seat of Polk County, with parts south of County Line Road in Warren County. The county matters for two things: which ISU Extension office is closest, and which county to choose in the IDALS license lookup.
Has emerald ash borer reached Des Moines?
Yes. The state's confirmed-site list includes Des Moines (2016), Windsor Heights (2016) in Polk County, and IDALS confirmed EAB in all 99 counties in October 2024.
How do I know a pest company in Des Moines is licensed?
Search the company's name in the IDALS lookup and check that the expiration date hasn't passed. A company saying it's licensed is not the same as a current state record.
Where can Des Moines renters get bed bug help?
Start with our bed bug guide for the Des Moines metro. It covers how to confirm bed bugs and why ISU says not to throw out furniture before talking with a pro. Then tell your landlord in writing.
Nearby towns we cover
Sources
- Des Moines, Iowa - Wikipedia (checked 2026-10-21)
- ISU Extension and Outreach Polk County (checked 2026-10-21)
- EAB Confirmed Locations in Iowa (list last updated 12/30/2022) - IowaTreePests.com / IDALS (checked 2026-10-21)
- Emerald Ash Borer Now Confirmed in all 99 Counties - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-21)
- How to Manage Ant Mounds in Lawns, Gardens, and Pastures - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Yellowjacket Wasp - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- It is Accidental Invader Season Again - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Mice: Damage Management - Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (checked 2026-10-21)
- Submitting an insect for identification - ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (checked 2026-10-21)
- Tick Surveillance - ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory (Dr. Ryan C. Smith) (checked 2026-10-21)
- Mosquito Surveillance - ISU Medical Entomology Laboratory (Dr. Ryan C. Smith) (checked 2026-10-21)
- Pesticide applicator and company license lookup - Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (checked 2026-10-21)
We link to the original sources so you can read them yourself. Product names are not endorsements.