Iowa City, Coralville & North Liberty Pest Guide
Iowa City is the county seat and largest city of Johnson County and the home of the University of Iowa. Coralville and North Liberty are Iowa City suburbs, also in Johnson County, and both are part of the Iowa City metro area. Because the three towns share a county, they share the same county Extension office and the same county search in the state license lookup, so we cover them together here.
This page pulls together the pest issues Iowa City homeowners tend to run into, local places to get help, and how to check that a pest company holds a current Iowa license.
What Iowa City homeowners see through the year
These seasonal patterns come from ISU Extension, which covers the whole state:
- Ants (spring). Wet springs bring busy soil-nesting ants and mounds in lawns. ISU's advice is usually to rake or hose the mounds flat. Our Iowa ant guide covers ants indoors too.
- Yellowjackets (late summer). Colonies grow from a single spring queen to as many as about 5,000 wasps by Iowa State Fair time, ISU says. If you find yellowjackets indoors after a frost, ISU says they almost always come from a nest inside a wall. Read wasp nest removal before you go near one.
- Fall invaders (September-October). ISU says boxelder bugs, Asian lady beetles and stink bugs can't reproduce indoors and are mostly a nuisance. Exterior treatments only help if they're applied before the insects move in.
- Mice (fall). Native deer mice and white-footed mice look for winter shelter in homes, ISU says. Our guide on mice in your Iowa home covers sealing, trapping and safe cleanup.
Emerald ash borer in Johnson County
The state's list of officially confirmed emerald ash borer (EAB) sites, last updated at the end of 2022, includes these Johnson County locations: Iowa City (2016); Coralville (2016); North Liberty (2019). 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 Iowa City
- County Extension office: ISU Extension and Outreach Johnson County lists its office at 3109 Old Highway 218 South, Iowa City, IA 52246 (phone 319-337-2145). 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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City
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 JOHNSON - 52 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 Johnson County on 10/21/2026, the lookup returned 199 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 Iowa City 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 Iowa City
A-Plus Pest Control
North Liberty · (319) 855-1441
North Liberty company offering residential and commercial pest control and service plans.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Bed bugs, Mice & rodents, Mosquitoes, Spiders, Ticks, Cockroaches, Commercial
Service area (their words): North Liberty, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas.
IDALS company license record found (10672-001, 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 10672-001: A-Plus Pest Control, North Liberty (Johnson County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://a-pluspestcontrol.jobbersites.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Alias The Bugman
Cedar Rapids · 319-665-2847
Eastern Iowa company offering pest control, rodent control, bed bug and termite treatment and bat work for homes and businesses.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Mice & rodents, Bed bugs, Termites, Wildlife, Wasps & stinging insects, Commercial
Service area (their words): Serving Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, North Liberty, Coralville and the surrounding areas.
IDALS company license record found (06918-001, 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 06918-001: ALIAS THE BUGMAN INC., Lisbon (Linn County), expiration 2026-12-31. License city (Lisbon) differs from the site's Cedar Rapids location.
Listing source: https://www.aliasbugman.com/, https://www.aliasbugman.com/our-services, https://www.aliasbugman.com/contact (checked 2026-10-21).
Denny's Pest Control
Iowa City · (319) 626-2202
Family-owned eastern Iowa company offering general pest control, termite control and real-estate inspections.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Termites, Ants, Mice & rodents, Wasps & stinging insects, Cockroaches
Service area (their words): Serving Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and surrounding areas (since 1982, per its site).
IDALS company license record found (09133-001, 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 09133-001: DENNY'S PEST CONTROL, Lone Tree (Johnson County), expiration 2026-12-31. License city (Lone Tree, Johnson County) differs from the Iowa City contact on the site.
Listing source: https://www.dennyspestcontrol.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Fox Pest Control (Iowa City)
Iowa City · (319) 246-7609
824 Orchard St, Iowa City, IA 52240
Multi-state pest control company with an Iowa City office; lists ants, spiders, ticks, cockroaches, termites, rodents, mosquitoes and wasps.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Spiders, Ticks, Cockroaches, Termites, Mice & rodents, Mosquitoes, Wasps & stinging insects, Commercial
Service area (their words): Its Iowa City page lists nearby cities including Bettendorf, Cedar Rapids, Coralville and Davenport.
IDALS company license record found (10907-001, 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 10907-001: FDS - Iowa City, IA LLC DBA Fox Pest Control, Iowa City (Johnson County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://fox-pest.com/locations/iowa/iowa-city/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Heartland Pest Control
Cedar Rapids · (319) 265-7378
Locally owned company treating crawling and flying insects and small rodents, plus flea, bed bug and termite treatments and real-estate pest inspections.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Mice & rodents, Bed bugs, Termites
Service area (their words): Serving the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City area (mailing address is a P.O. box in Cedar Rapids).
IDALS company license record found (05836-001, 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 05836-001: HEARTLAND PEST CONTROL INC, Cedar Rapids (Linn County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://heartlandpest.com/ (checked 2026-10-21).
Midwest Pest Control (Cedar Rapids)
Cedar Rapids · 402-524-5200
1178 Capital Dr SW, Suite A, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Regional company's Cedar Rapids office; lists ants, rodents, mosquitoes, spiders, ticks, cockroaches, stinging insects and commercial service.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Wasps & stinging insects, Mice & rodents, Mosquitoes, Spiders, Ticks, Cockroaches, Commercial
Service area (their words): Its Cedar Rapids page names Cedar Rapids, Marion, Hiawatha, Iowa City and North Liberty among nearby areas.
IDALS company license record found (11524-001, 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 11524-001: Midwest Pest Control, Cedar Rapids (Linn County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://midwestpest.com/pest-control-cedar-rapids (checked 2026-10-21).
Orkin (Cedar Rapids branch)
Cedar Rapids · 319-249-7668
6105 7th St SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
National company's Cedar Rapids branch serving eastern and southeast Iowa; lists general pest, termite, bed bug, rodent and mosquito services.
Services listed on their site: General pest control, Ants, Bed bugs, Wasps & stinging insects, Mice & rodents, Termites, Mosquitoes, Spiders, Cockroaches, Commercial
Service area (their words): Branch #524 page lists Anamosa, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Center Point, Coralville, Fairfax, Fairfield, Fort Madison, Hiawatha, Iowa City, Kalona, Keokuk, Marion and other towns.
IDALS company license record found (02004-000, 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 02004-000: ORKIN, Cedar Rapids (Linn County), expiration 2026-12-31.
Listing source: https://www.orkin.com/locations/iowa-ia/cedar-rapids-pest-control/branch-524 (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 Iowa City in?
Iowa City is in Johnson County, Iowa. 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 Iowa City?
Yes. The state's confirmed-site list includes Iowa City (2016), Coralville (2016), North Liberty (2019) in Johnson County, and IDALS confirmed EAB in all 99 counties in October 2024.
How do I know a pest company in Iowa City 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.
Do Coralville and North Liberty have their own pest rules?
Pesticide applicator licensing is a state program, so the same IDALS license lookup covers Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty. Search Johnson County, or search a company by name.
Nearby towns we cover
Sources
- Iowa City, Iowa - Wikipedia (checked 2026-10-21)
- Coralville, Iowa - Wikipedia (checked 2026-10-21)
- North Liberty, Iowa - Wikipedia (checked 2026-10-21)
- ISU Extension and Outreach Johnson 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.