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Pests and pest control in Tennessee

Pests to know in Tennessee

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

Pests documented in Tennessee

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

Many public records (685)

Fewer public records (160)

Range named by extension sources (4)

Termites in Tennessee

  • The three most common termites in Tennessee are the eastern, southeastern, and light southeastern subterranean termites.[2]
  • Formosan subterranean termites have been introduced to the Memphis area in the past but are not established in Tennessee.[2]

Invasive species reported here

  • All or parts of 74 Tennessee counties are under quarantine for imported fire ants.[3]
  • Spotted lanternfly was found in Knox County in East Tennessee after a report from a resident.[4]

Pests local experts flag

  • Brown recluse and black widow spiders are both found in every Tennessee county.[5]
  • The most common tick-borne illnesses in Tennessee are spotted fever rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and anaplasmosis.[6]

Public agencies that handle pests

The Tennessee Department of Health's vector-borne diseases program collects and tests mosquitoes, investigates reported cases, and works with local agencies on mosquito control and education.[7]

Hiring a licensed company

Tennessee's pesticide regulatory agency is the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (Pesticides Section).[1]

Licensing agency: Tennessee Department of Agriculture — Pesticides Section[1].

See also how to check a pest control license.

Free local help

The UT Soil, Plant and Pest Center in Nashville offers insect identification and plant disease identification among its services.[8]

Local guides in Tennessee

Through the year

Spring
The eastern subterranean termite, Tennessee's most common termite, often swarms between March and May.[2]

Sources

  1. National Pesticide Information Center, “State Pesticide Regulatory Agencies.” npic.orst.edu/reg/state_agencies.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. UT Extension (University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture), “PB1344 Subterranean Termite Control (UT Extension; archived in UT TRACE).” trace.tennessee.edu/utk_agexdise/15 (accessed 2026-10-17)
  3. Tennessee Department of Agriculture, “Imported Fire Ants (IFA).” www.tn.gov/agriculture/businesses/plants/plant-pests-and-quarantines/ifa.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  4. Tennessee Department of Agriculture, “Spotted Lanternfly Detected in East Tennessee.” www.tn.gov/agriculture/news/2025/9/18/spotted-lanternfly-detected-in-east-tennessee.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  5. Tennessee Poison Center (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), “Bites & Stings.” www.vumc.org/poison-control/information/envenomations (accessed 2026-10-06)
  6. Tennessee Department of Health, “Tick-Borne Diseases.” web.archive.org/web/20260309114050/www.tn.gov/health/cedep/vector-borne-diseases/tick-borne-diseases.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  7. Tennessee Department of Health, “Mosquito-Borne Diseases.” web.archive.org/web/20250902021842/www.tn.gov/health/cedep/vector-borne-diseases/mosquito-borne-diseases.html (accessed 2026-10-06)
  8. University of Tennessee Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, “Extension and Outreach.” epp.tennessee.edu/?p=72 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-17. Every statement on this page comes from the cited state, federal or university source. Spot an error? Tell us.