Free for homeowners
Pest control in Tennessee
What are the most common pests in this state, and who handles them?
Pest control in Tennessee runs on termites and spiders: eastern subterranean termites swarm statewide in March and April, brown recluse spiders settle into basements and garages, and lone star and blacklegged ticks hold wooded yards. Crawlspace moisture in older homes feeds termites and roaches alike. PestChief matches Tennessee homeowners with one independent local pest control company.
Where can you read about each pest?
Pest pressure here is shaped by climate, geography and housing stock, so it varies across the state. The notable issues for this state are set out on this page. For how each pest is identified, what the signs look like and what treatment usually involves, read the pest guides.
What is the climate like here?
Climate is the biggest single driver of which pests live here and how long their season runs.
Which pest issues stand out here?
- Eastern subterranean termites statewide with reliable spring swarms
- Brown recluse spiders common in homes, basements and garages
- Lone star and blacklegged tick pressure in wooded habitat
- Crawlspace moisture in older homes supporting termites and roaches
Which pests are active in each season?
Activity shifts through the year, so the pest worth treating in March is rarely the one worth treating in August.
Which pests are active in spring?
Which pests are active in summer?
Which pests are active in fall?
Which pests are active in winter?
How does pest pressure vary by region?
Pest pressure is not uniform across a state. Elevation, humidity, soil and the age of the housing stock all change which pests appear and when.
Which regions of the state face which pests?
When do termites swarm in each region?
Is your ZIP code in Tennessee covered?
PestChief is free to the homeowner. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code, not state by state. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company, and it contacts you directly.
What licensing should you ask a company for?
Licensing is the one check a homeowner can make before any work starts. Every state requires a pest control company to hold a license, and most require a separate certification for specialty work such as termite treatment. Ask for the license number, confirm it covers the pest you have, and check it with the state agency that issues it.
What does this state require of a licensed company?
What else should you know about this state?
A few state specific details that change how pest control works here, and what they mean for a homeowner.
Which metro areas are covered?
Coverage varies inside a state, not only between states. A company that covers one metro area may not cover a rural ZIP code two counties away, and the pests it is licensed to treat can differ as well. The metro areas listed here are where PestChief most often has a company to introduce you to. If your city is not listed, a ZIP code check is still worth doing.
What do homeowners ask most?
What pests are most common in Tennessee?
Brown recluse spiders and termites make Tennessee's pest profile distinctive, with ticks and roaches behind them. The local pressures:
- Eastern subterranean termites statewide with reliable spring swarms
- Brown recluse spiders common in homes, basements and garages
- Lone star and blacklegged tick pressure in wooded habitat
- Crawlspace moisture in older homes supporting termites and roaches
When is pest season in Tennessee?
Pest season in Tennessee opens with March and April termite swarms and stays heavy through a hot, humid summer.
Spring: Termite swarms in March and April; ticks wake in wooded yards. Summer: Peak tick, mosquito and spider activity. Fall: Rodents move into crawlspaces and basements; recluse spiders follow. Winter: Crawlspace rodent and roach work continues; recluse spiders stay indoors.
Who licenses pest control companies in Tennessee?
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture regulates structural pest control, licensing charter holders and certified operators for termite and general pest work. Ask to see a company's Tennessee charter or license before treatment and check that it covers the pest you have.
How much does pest control cost in Tennessee?
Nationally a single visit averages about $171 (This Old House); one time treatment programs run $300 to $550 (HomeAdvisor) and recurring plans $300 to $900 (HomeGuide) a year in published estimates. None of these is a PestChief quote. In Tennessee, the crawlspace often decides the scope of termite and roach work, and the company that inspects your home sets the actual price.
Why do crawlspaces matter for Tennessee pest control?
Crawlspace moisture in older Tennessee homes feeds termites and roaches alike, so the crawlspace usually decides the scope of the job. Damp wood supports eastern subterranean termites, and the same conditions support roaches and the brown recluse spiders that settle into basements and garages. An inspection that skips the crawlspace misses the driver.
Does PestChief cover Tennessee?
Tennessee coverage takes in Nashville and Memphis. Coverage is assembled ZIP code by ZIP code and company by company, so confirm your own address by entering your ZIP code in the locations finder. PestChief passes your request to one independent local pest control company that covers your ZIP code and handles your pest, and that company contacts you directly. If no company covers your ZIP code, PestChief tells you so.
Where does this information come from?
Seasonality and pest biology
- US EPA, Integrated Pest Management principles
- UC Statewide IPM Program, Home and Landscape pests
- US EPA, Safe Pest Control
- Penn State Extension
Pricing
National estimates from published industry sources. Not PestChief quotes.
Licensing
Licensing is administered by Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Ready to get this handled?
It costs the homeowner nothing. Coverage is checked ZIP code by ZIP code. Give your ZIP code and the pest you are seeing, and if an independent local pest control company covers that ZIP code and handles that pest, your request goes to that one company. It contacts you directly, and it sets its own price.
What should you check before you hire?
Every state we cover
Browse the full list of states and metro areas, and check whether your area is covered.
Pests, one by one
Identification, signs of an infestation and what to do first, for each pest we cover.
What pest control costs
National ranges by treatment type, with the basis for each figure stated plainly.
Season by season
Which pests get active when, and the months worth acting in before a problem grows.
Learn the basics
Plain explanations of treatments, prevention and the questions worth asking a company.
How PestChief works
We match a homeowner with one independent local pest control company. Here is what happens.