Termites in Memphis: Native Swarms and a Formosan Watch Next Door

Memphis sits at an odd spot on the termite map. Its everyday termites are the same natives found across Tennessee, but it's the Tennessee city with a Formosan history, and the species has been showing up in north Mississippi suburbs just south of the state line. Here's what that means for a Memphis house.

By John Updated 5 min read Termite pressure: Moderate to heavy
Sketch map of Tennessee with a pin on Memphis in the far southwest corner

The short version

Memphis termites are native subterranean species that swarm by day from March into fall. Formosan termites were introduced to the Memphis area in the past but didn't establish, UT Extension says, though Shelby County stays on Mississippi's quarantine list and Formosans have recently turned up near Olive Branch. In the Cooper-Young historic district, window and door replacement doesn't need a certificate.

Memphis at a glance

Termite pressure
Moderate to heavy
Termites to know
Eastern subterranean
Why termites like it here
Hot, humid summers and mild winters on the Mississippi River, with native subterranean termites citywide and a history of Formosan introductions.
Inspection report for home sales
Wood Destroying Insect Infestation Inspection Report (clearance letter)
On this page
  1. The termites Memphis actually has
  2. The Formosan history
  3. Is it a native or a Formosan?
  4. Historic districts and termite repairs
  5. Tennessee's rules, briefly
  6. For Memphis homeowners
  7. Questions

The termites Memphis actually has

Memphis termites are Tennessee's native subterranean termites, and their combined calendar runs most of the year. UT Extension's dates put the first flights in March and the last in October: spring for the most common species, late spring or fall for a second, and late summer into fall for a pale-brown third. They fly in daylight and nest underground, coming into houses by mud tube or wherever wood touches the dirt.

That long calendar matters more than any single date. A swarm of small, dark termites in a sunroom in April and a few pale-brown ones on a windowsill in September can come from different species, and both mean a colony is close. What to do the morning after is in termites swarming in your house.

The Formosan history

Memphis is the one Tennessee city with a Formosan story. University of Tennessee Extension's termite guide says the Formosan subterranean termite was introduced to the Memphis area in the past but didn't become established, and it asks anyone who suspects Formosans to report them to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

Two things keep the watch going:

  • Shelby County is still on the list. Mississippi's Formosan quarantine rule, which tracks infested areas in other states, names Shelby County.
  • Formosans are moving north in Mississippi. Mississippi State University reported in 2024 that recent Formosan collections came from or near several north Mississippi towns, including Olive Branch, just south of the Memphis city limits. MSU called them isolated cases and said it isn't known whether the species is established that far north.

That's not a reason for alarm. It's a reason to know what a Formosan swarm looks like and to report one if you see it. How the quarantine lists work is in Formosan termite quarantine laws.

Is it a native or a Formosan?

A Formosan sighting in Memphis would be news. These clues come from UT Extension and Mississippi State University.

Telling a Memphis native swarm from a Formosan one
Clue Native subterranean Formosan
Time of day Daytime After dark
Lights Not drawn to them Strongly drawn to them
Swarm months March into fall, depending on species Early May to early June in Mississippi
What to do Schedule an inspection Save specimens in alcohol and report to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture

UT asks for 10 to 15 swarmers or soldiers in rubbing alcohol for identification.

Historic districts and termite repairs

Memphis has 13 local historic districts, according to the Cooper-Young Community Association, and their design guidelines don't all read the same way. The association calls Cooper-Young's guidelines the least restrictive of the 13.

In Cooper-Young, a Certificate of Appropriateness is needed for six kinds of work: new construction, habitable and non-habitable additions, outbuildings and new fencing, demolition and relocation. Paint colors, roofing and window and door replacement don't need one, and neither does any improvement the guidelines don't cover. When it's unclear, the city's Office of Planning and Development decides whether a project is exempt, often by phone or email within about a week. Projects that do need a certificate go to the Memphis Landmarks Commission, which takes about a month, with fees from $25 to $250.

For termite repairs, that's good news. Replacing a damaged sill, joist or porch floor in kind usually isn't the kind of change the guidelines review. Other districts can be stricter, so call the Office of Planning and Development before work starts if you're outside Cooper-Young. If you can't tell insect damage from decay, termite damage vs water damage walks through the differences.

Tennessee's rules, briefly

Memphis homeowners get the full protection of Tennessee's termite rules, covered on the Tennessee termite page: a written contract with a graph of your house before any treatment, a one-year retreatment warranty, a yearly inspection, and a clear statement on the front if the contract doesn't cover damage. Check that the company's charter number is on its truck, and look it up on the state's public charter list.

For Memphis homeowners

Do

  • Note whether a swarm came by day or by night
  • Report a suspected Formosan swarm to the state
  • Keep the inspection graph that comes with your contract
  • Call the Office of Planning and Development before exterior work in a historic district

Don't

  • Assume a September swarm can't be termites
  • Bring used railroad ties or timbers up from the Gulf Coast
  • Sign a termite contract without a graph of the house
  • Kill and discard a night swarm without saving a few specimens

Questions people ask

When do termites swarm in Memphis?

Daytime swarms of native termites can happen any time from March through October, depending on the species, with spring the busiest stretch. A swarm at night around lights is unusual for Memphis and worth reporting.

Are there Formosan termites in Memphis?

Not established, according to UT Extension, which says they were introduced to the Memphis area in the past but didn't establish. Shelby County remains on Mississippi's quarantine list, and Formosans have recently been collected near Olive Branch, Mississippi.

Do I need approval to repair termite damage in a Memphis historic district?

Often not. In Cooper-Young, for example, window and door replacement, roofing and paint don't need a Certificate of Appropriateness. Rules vary by district, so check with the Office of Planning and Development first.

Who regulates termite companies in Memphis?

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Companies need a state charter, and termite contracts must include a one-year retreatment warranty and annual inspections.

More in Tennessee

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