Pests and pest control in Jackson, TN

Pests to know in Jackson

• Mosquito
• Subterranean termites
• Red Imported Fire Ant

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

Termites in Jackson

• UT Extension calls subterranean termites the most destructive wood-feeding insects in Tennessee.^[2]
• University of Tennessee entomologists say the eastern subterranean termite should be considered the most common subterranean termite in the state.^[3]
• In Tennessee, a wood destroying insect infestation report issued for a real estate sale must be warranted as accurate for 90 days.^[4]

Invasive species reported here

• Madison County appears on the Tennessee Department of Agriculture list of counties quarantined for imported fire ants.^[5]
• UT Extension in Madison County says the invasive crapemyrtle bark scale has reached West Tennessee and is an active problem in the county.^[6]

Climate

Central Jackson (ZIP 38301) is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7b, where the average coldest winter night is 5 to 10°F.^[9]

Public agencies that handle pests

• The Tennessee Department of Health reports higher spotted fever rickettsiosis incidence across many counties in western and middle Tennessee.^[1]
• State health officials say nine mosquito species that can transmit diseases to humans live in Tennessee.^[1]
• Tennessee health officials list the lone star tick as a carrier of ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland virus, STARI and alpha-gal syndrome.^[1]

Hiring a licensed company

Tennessee law allows a pest control company to operate legally only when its charter number is displayed on its company vehicle.^[4]

Licensing agency: Tennessee Department of Agriculture — Pesticides Section^[10].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Free local help

Madison County residents can bring an insect or plant to the Extension office in Jackson for identification by the horticulture agent.^[7]

Through the year

Spring to Fall

In Tennessee, West Nile virus cases rise slightly from April through July and peak in late summer, August and September, per state health data.^[1]

Summer

UT Extension notes fire ants nesting near buildings sometimes forage indoors for food and moisture, especially in hot, dry summer months.^[8]

Sources

1. Tennessee Department of Health, “Vector-Borne Diseases.” www.tn.gov/health/vector.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
2. University of Tennessee Extension, “Subterranean Termites.” trace.tennessee.edu/utk_agexdise/15 (accessed 2026-10-06)
3. University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology, “Termites in Tennessee.” epp.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/267/2023/11/2020-09RhageniV1I1.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
4. Tennessee Department of Agriculture, “Pesticide Consumer Tips.” www.tn.gov/agriculture/businesses/pesticides/pesticide-consumer-tips.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
5. Tennessee Department of Agriculture, “Imported Fire Ant Areas in Tennessee.” www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/agriculture/documents/planthealth/2026/IMPORTED%20FIRE%20ANT%20AREAS%20IN%20TENNESSEE%20January%202026_PL-ADA.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
6. UT-TSU Extension Madison County, “Crapemyrtle Bark Scale.” madison.tennessee.edu/crapemyrtle-bark-scale/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
7. UT-TSU Extension Madison County, “Residential Horticulture.” madison.tennessee.edu/residential-horticulture/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
8. University of Tennessee Extension, “Fire Ants in Urban Areas.” fireants.tennessee.edu/management/urban-areas/ (accessed 2026-10-06)
9. USDA ARS and PRISM, via phzmapi.org, “Plant hardiness zone for ZIP 38301 (2023 USDA map data).” phzmapi.org/38301.json (accessed 2026-10-06)
10. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)