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

Pests to know in North Carolina

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

Pests documented in North Carolina

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

Many public records (813)

Fewer public records (172)

Range named by extension sources (4)

Termites in North Carolina

NC State Extension says subterranean termites, which live below ground and move up into structures, are North Carolina's main termite problem.^[2]
Drywood termites are relatively uncommon in North Carolina, so structural fumigation is rarely used for the state's common subterranean termites.^[2]

Invasive species reported here

Red imported fire ants are found in at least 75 of North Carolina's 100 counties, and infested areas are under a USDA and NCDA&CS quarantine that regulates movement of items that could carry them.^[3]
The invasive longhorned tick, first introduced to the US mainland in 2010, had been found in thirty North Carolina counties as of July 2024.^[4]

Pests local experts flag

NC State Extension names the black widow and the brown recluse as the two best-known poisonous spiders in North Carolina.^[5]
Brown recluse spiders can be found in North Carolina but are not very common, and several look-alike spiders are often misidentified as recluses.^[5]

Public agencies that handle pests

The NC Division of Public Health tracks vector-borne diseases; Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease and STARI are the tick-borne illnesses most often seen in the state.^[6]

Hiring a licensed company

North Carolina's pesticide regulatory agency is the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (Structural Pest Control & Pesticide Division).^[1]

Licensing agency: North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services — Structural Pest Control & Pesticide Division^[1].

Free local help

NC State's Plant Disease and Insect Clinic diagnoses plant and insect problems for homeowners, gardeners and growers and recommends treatment or prevention, working with NC Cooperative Extension.^[7]

Local guides in North Carolina

Through the year

Winter to Fall: North Carolina has at least three native subterranean termite species, which begin swarming in late winter and continue into September or October.^[2]

Sources

National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
NC State Extension, “Termites - Biology and Control.” content.ces.ncsu.edu/termites-biology-and-control (accessed 2026-10-06)
NC State Extension, “Red Imported Fire Ant in North Carolina.” content.ces.ncsu.edu/red-imported-fire-ant-in-north-carolina (accessed 2026-10-06)
NC State Extension, “Longhorned Tick.” content.ces.ncsu.edu/asian-longhorned-tick (accessed 2026-10-06)
NC State Extension, “Spiders in and Around Homes.” content.ces.ncsu.edu/spiders-in-and-around-homes (accessed 2026-10-06)
North Carolina Division of Public Health, “Diseases & Topics - Vector-Borne Diseases.” epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/vector.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
NC State Extension, “Plant Disease and Insect Clinic | NC State Extension.” pdic.ces.ncsu.edu/ (accessed 2026-10-06)