Pest control in South Carolina

What to know about pest control in South Carolina

South Carolina homeowners deal with two kinds of subterranean termites, fire ants, cockroaches and mosquitoes. Pest control businesses in the state need a license from the Department of Pesticide Regulation at Clemson University.

Common pests in South Carolina

Clemson Extension's Home and Garden Information Center covers these pests for South Carolina homeowners.

• Native subterranean termites. The eastern and southeastern subterranean termites are the two species found most often, and both occur throughout the state. See our termite page.
• Formosan subterranean termites. This imported termite arrived in Charleston in the 1950s. It is now found in many parts of Charleston County, in Beaufort County, and in parts of Dorchester, Berkeley, Orangeburg and York counties.
• Fire ants. An invasive ant with a venomous sting. Clemson publishes guides for managing fire ants in South Carolina lawns. See ants.
• Cockroaches. More than a dozen kinds live in South Carolina, but only a few come indoors. The German cockroach is the most persistent indoor pest, and American cockroaches live around sewers and, along the coast, in trees. See cockroaches.
• Asian tiger mosquitoes. They breed in gutters, bird baths, flower pots and old tires, and they bite during the day. See mosquitoes.

Who licenses pest control companies in South Carolina

The Department of Pesticide Regulation, part of Clemson University's regulatory services, licenses pest control in South Carolina. Any business that does industrial, institutional, structural or health-related pest control must hold a pesticide business license. Applicators who treat other people's property for pay need a commercial applicator license. The department's licensing page explains the rules, and you can check a commercial applicator in its commercial applicator lookup.

How to check a company before you hire

1. Ask for the company's business license number and the name of the licensed applicator, then confirm the applicator with the department's lookup.
2. Ask which pest they found and what they saw that shows it. For termites, ask whether it is a native or Formosan termite.
3. Ask how they plan to treat it, and what you need to do before and after treatment.
4. Get the treatment plan, the cost and any warranty in writing, including whether a termite warranty transfers if you sell.
5. Read reviews from other customers. Compare the companies on this page, and write a review once the work is done. You can also see how reviews work.