Independent termite advice for homeowners

Termites, explained by someone who isn't selling you anything

Found wings on the windowsill? Got a quote that seems high? Buying a house with "evidence of infestation" in the report? Start here. We don't sell pest control, so we can tell you when you don't need it.

Sketch of a homeowner checking a foundation for mud tubes with a flashlight

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Where termites hit hardest

Darker states carry heavier termite pressure. Tap a state to see which termites live there, when they swarm, and the rules for inspections.

Map of termite pressure by state. Darker means heavier termite activity. Alabama: Very heavy Alaska: None to slight Arizona: Moderate to heavy Colorado: Slight to moderate Florida: Very heavy Georgia: Very heavy Indiana: Moderate to heavy Kansas: Moderate to heavy Maine: None to slight Massachusetts: Slight to moderate Minnesota: None to slight New Jersey: Slight to moderate North Carolina: Moderate to heavy North Dakota: None to slight Oklahoma: Moderate to heavy Pennsylvania: Slight to moderate South Dakota: None to slight Texas: Very heavy Wyoming: None to slight Connecticut: Slight to moderate Missouri: Moderate to heavy West Virginia: Slight to moderate Illinois: Moderate to heavy New Mexico: Moderate to heavy Arkansas: Moderate to heavy California: Very heavy Delaware: Moderate to heavy Washington, D.C.: Moderate to heavy Hawaii: Very heavy Iowa: Slight to moderate Kentucky: Moderate to heavy Maryland: Moderate to heavy Michigan: Slight to moderate Mississippi: Very heavy Montana: None to slight New Hampshire: None to slight New York: Slight to moderate Ohio: Slight to moderate Oregon: Slight to moderate Tennessee: Moderate to heavy Utah: Slight to moderate Virginia: Moderate to heavy Washington: Slight to moderate Wisconsin: None to slight Nebraska: Slight to moderate South Carolina: Very heavy Idaho: Slight to moderate Nevada: Moderate to heavy Vermont: None to slight Louisiana: Very heavy Rhode Island: Slight to moderate
  • None to slight
  • Slight to moderate
  • Moderate to heavy
  • Very heavy

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Guides

From "is that a termite?" to "is this bond worth it?"

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Why this site exists

Most termite advice online is written by companies that want to sell you a treatment. Some of it is good. All of it ends with "call us for a free inspection".

This site is the other kind. Every guide is written to answer one question properly: what you're looking at, what it means, what it should cost, which rules apply where you live, and what you can do yourself. When the honest answer is "this isn't termites" or "you don't need the expensive option", that's what you'll read here.

The facts come from university extension services, the EPA, HUD and state agencies, and every guide lists its sources at the bottom. Prices are always ranges, and we tell you what moves them.

How the site is organized

Six topics cover almost every termite question: identifying termites, inspecting your house, treatment options, prevention, costs and contracts, and laws and regulations.

Termites are a local problem, so every state with real termite pressure gets its own guide, and the biggest termite cities get theirs. Find yours on the termites by state map.

Questions people ask

Is this site run by a pest control company?

No. We don't sell treatments, inspections or products of our own. Some pages carry ads, local sponsors and affiliate links, which are always labeled, and none of them decide what a guide recommends.

Where should I start if I think I have termites?

Read how to inspect your house for termites, then compare what you found with the signs in termite identification. If it's winged bugs, the termite or flying ant quiz takes thirty seconds.

How do I know if termites are a problem where I live?

Check the termites by state map. It shades every state by termite pressure, using the federal termite infestation probability map that HUD and the building codes rely on, and links to each state's guide.