Local termite information

Termite control in South Carolina

Learn what to look for around your property, explore your city, and ask about an inspection or a quote.

Termites in South Carolina: what to know

Around South Carolina

Conditions vary across the state. Choose your city below, then describe what’s happening around your home or business.

What to note

Where you see termites, how long it has been going on, and anything you’ve already tried are the most useful details to mention.

A useful next step

Ask about an inspection, what treatment would involve, and whether follow-up visits are included. You don’t need to identify the problem yourself before getting in touch.

Local research

Termites in South Carolina: what the public record shows

Before you compare quotes, it helps to know which termites actually live in South Carolina, when they are busiest, and what the state figures look like. Everything below links to the agency or university page it came from.

Eight species

Termite species recorded in South Carolina

Four drywood and four subterranean species mean coastal SC homes can face both soil-borne and wood-borne infestations.

Clemson Home & Garden Information Center

16 counties

Counties with established Formosan termites

Formosan termites have spread well inland from Charleston, into the Midlands and Upstate.

Clemson Home & Garden Information Center

Termite species recorded in South Carolina

Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) — UGA calls it 'the most widely distributed subterranean termite, and it is the most common termite found in the eastern United States'; it swarms February through April in Georgi…
Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) — FDACS lists it in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, California and Hawaii. Colonies contain…
West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis) — UF/IFAS lists it among the major structural pest species accounting for roughly 65% of Florida termite reports. Clemson records the 'powderpost' drywood termite in seven South C…
Western drywood termite (Incisitermes minor) — UC IPM: 'California's second most important termite pest', 'commonly found along the Pacific coastal region extending into the Central Valley and deserts of Southern California'…

When termites are busiest in South Carolina

Native subterranean species swarm in early spring, often in the afternoon; Formosan swarms mid-May to July, often in the evening, attracted to lights (Clemson).

Clemson: Formosan termites established in Aiken, Bamberg, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Lexington, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Sumter, and York counties; Formosan colonies 'may have a million or more' workers vs. about 100,000 for natives. Eastern drywood termites found in six coastal counties; powderpost (West Indian) drywood termite in seven counties.

For context, nationally

approximately $2 billion per year — Annual US cost of subterranean termite treatment and prevention. University of Georgia Extension
Approximately $4.5 billion — Annual US spending to control subterranean termites and repair damage. University of Missouri Extension

Sources: Clemson Home & Garden Information Center; Biology of Subterranean Termites in the Eastern United States (B1209); University of Missouri Extension; Formosan Termite Program; Termite Species Distribution in Florida and UF Termite Identification Services (IN1360); Drywood Termites (Pest Notes). Figures are quoted as the source prints them. How we check our sources

Explore South Carolina cities

Aiken

Humid Subtropical · rural setting

Termite control in South Carolina

Termites in South Carolina: what to know

Around South Carolina

What to note

A useful next step

Termites in South Carolina: what the public record shows

Termite species recorded in South Carolina

When termites are busiest in South Carolina

For context, nationally

Explore South Carolina cities

Aiken

Anderson

Charleston

Columbia

Florence

Goose Creek

Greenville

Greer

Hilton Head Island

Mount Pleasant

Myrtle Beach

North Charleston

Rock Hill

Spartanburg

Summerville

Sumter

Taylors

Greenwood

Ask about termite control in South Carolina