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New Castle County

Pest control in Delaware City, Delaware

A canal and river town founded in 1826 for the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, and the ferry landing for Fort Delaware.

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What Delaware City homeowners deal with

  • River, canal and marsh edges mean mosquitoes; DNREC’s Mosquito Control Section treats ditches, stormwater ponds and wet woodlands statewide.
  • Older buildings have more gaps for mice and termites to use; stink bugs gather on sunny walls in the fall.
  • Blacklegged ticks live in woody edges statewide, and DNREC says ticks can be active year-round.

What shapes pest pressure in Delaware City

The Delaware Public Archives says Delaware City’s early history is tied to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal: the Newbold family drew up a plot for a town on their Delaware River land in 1826, the canal bisected that plotted area, and by the time it was completed in 1829 the area was already an operating base for shipbuilding and forming a community. The municipality was formed in 1851, and the Delaware City Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Delaware State Parks says the ferry to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island leaves from the dock at 45 Clinton Street in Delaware City. Census Bureau place centers put Bear about 5.5 miles away and New Castle about 7 miles away in a straight line, and the city falls in ZIP Code Tabulation Area 19706.

A canal and river town has a lot of water and wet ground nearby. DNREC says its Mosquito Control Section monitors and treats mosquitoes that come from ditches, stormwater ponds, wet woodlands and coastal salt marshes, so emptying containers around the house is the part you control. Older buildings have more gaps for mice and termites to use, and stink bugs gather on sunny walls in the fall. DNREC says blacklegged ticks live in woody edges statewide and that ticks can be active year-round.

Pest season in Delaware City

Spring
Ticks become active along field and wood edges, and ants move indoors. Termite swarmers can show up on warm spring days.
Summer
Mosquitoes breed in ditches, ponds and standing water, so empty containers weekly. Check for ticks after time outdoors.
Fall
Field mice and stink bugs look for ways indoors as nights cool. Seal gaps around pipes, doors and siding.
Winter
Mice that got in stay in walls and outbuildings. DNREC says blacklegged tick adults are most active in the late fall and winter.

Top pests in Delaware City

Southern saltmarsh mosquito on a plant stem
MosquitoesYard

Salt marsh and backyard breeders. Worst near standing water and the coast.

Peak: Jun – AugLocal pros availableHouse mouse on a concrete floor
Mice & RatsHome

Move inside as nights cool. Droppings and gnawing are the first signs.

Peak: Oct – FebLocal pros availableClose-up of a termite on wood
TermitesHome

Subterranean termites swarm in spring. A must-check before any home sale.

Peak: Mar – MayLocal pros availableClose-up of a tick on a green leaf
TicksYard

Deer ticks carry Lyme. Found in tall grass, leaf litter and wooded edges.

Peak: Apr – Jul, Oct – NovLocal pros availableBrown marmorated stink bug on a leaf
Stink BugsHome

Gather on sunny walls in fall and slip in around windows.

Peak: Sep – NovLocal pros availableClose-up of an ant on a leaf
AntsHome

Odorous house ants and carpenter ants lead spring kitchen calls.

Peak: Apr – JulLocal pros available

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Nearby towns

BearNew CastleAll of New Castle County

Delaware City pest questions

Why do mice show up in Delaware City homes as it gets cold?

Cooling nights push mice into walls, garages and outbuildings, and older buildings have more gaps for them to use. Seal gaps around pipes, doors and vents, store pet food and birdseed in sealed containers, and set snap traps along walls.

Which DNREC mosquito office serves Delaware City?

DNREC’s Mosquito Control Section serves New Castle County from its Northern Delaware Office in Glasgow. For nuisance mosquitoes or larger breeding sites such as ditches, stormwater ponds or wet woodlands, contact that office.

Are ticks a problem around here?

DNREC says blacklegged (deer) ticks are common in forested areas and woody edges statewide, longhorned ticks turn up in New Castle and Kent counties in spring and summer, and ticks can be active year-round. Check yourself, kids and pets after time outdoors.

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