Pests in Arkansas: Termites, Invasive Species, Ticks and Mosquitoes, Licensing and Free Help

Pests to know in Arkansas

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

Pests documented in Arkansas

From public GBIF occurrence records since 1990. A record means a species was documented in Arkansas, not that it's common near you.

Many public records (484)

Fewer public records (212)

Range named by extension sources (2)

Termites in Arkansas

Three subterranean termite species occur in Arkansas; the eastern and dark southern subterranean termites are found statewide, and the eastern subterranean termite is the most common.^[2]

Invasive species reported here

The red imported fire ant was first documented in Arkansas in El Dorado (Union County) in 1958 and now infests much of the state's southern half, with isolated areas farther north.^[3]
The federal imported fire ant quarantine is a USDA APHIS regulation, and the Arkansas State Plant Board carries out inspections and enforcement in Arkansas.^[3]

Pests local experts flag

Arkansas Extension says the state is known for abundant ticks, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever is its most prevalent and severe tick-borne disease.^[4]
Arkansas has two venomous spiders of medical concern, the black widow and the brown recluse, and the black widow is found throughout the state.^[5]
Carpenter ants are among the largest common ants in Arkansas; they do not eat wood, but they excavate it to expand their nests and can cause structural damage.^[6]

Public agencies that handle pests

The Arkansas Department of Health tracks West Nile virus, which was first recognized in the state in 2002, and notes that St. Louis and Eastern equine encephalitis also occur in Arkansas and nearby states.^[7]

Hiring a licensed company

Arkansas's pesticide regulatory agency is the Arkansas State Plant Board (Pesticide Division).^[1]

Licensing agency: Arkansas State Plant Board — Pesticide Division^[1].

Free local help

The Arkansas Plant Health Clinic in Fayetteville, part of the Cooperative Extension Service, diagnoses plant diseases and pests from samples submitted through county Extension offices or delivered directly.^[8]

Local guides in Arkansas

Through the year

Spring: In Arkansas, termite swarmers may emerge in large numbers, inside infested homes or from soil outdoors, during daylight from March through May.^[2]
Spring to Fall: Arkansas Extension advises controlling brown recluse spiders in spring and early summer, because the spiders move around more in late summer and fall.^[5]

Sources

National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, “Subterranean Termite Identification and Biology (FSA7061).” www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7061.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, “The Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine (FSA7053).” www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7053.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, “Tick-Borne Diseases in Arkansas (FSA7047).” www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7047.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, “Biology and Control of Spiders, Scorpions, Centipedes and Millipedes (FSA7018).” www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7018.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, “Carpenter Ants (FSA7013).” www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7013.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
Arkansas Department of Health, “West Nile Virus.” healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/west-nile-virus (accessed 2026-10-06)
University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, “What is wrong with my plant? | Arkansas Plant Health Clinic.” www.uaex.uada.edu/yard-garden/plant-health-clinic/ (accessed 2026-10-06)