Which states face the most pest pressure? We combined climate, termite risk zones and the official ranges of six high-impact pests into one score for every state. Click any state to see its profile, or switch layers to see where each pest has taken hold.
U.S. Pest Pressure Map
Pest Pressure Rankings: All 50 States
| Rank | State | Score | Termite zone | Avg temp °F | Fire ants | Formosan | Lyme high-inc. | Lanternfly | Longhorned tick | Brown recluse |
|---|
Want the full species list for a state? Every state name links to its Top 25 Pests page.
Key Findings
- The Southeast dominates. Warm, humid states stack multiple threats: heavy termite pressure, fire ants, Formosan termites and brown recluse spiders, with invasive ticks and lanternflies now moving south.
- The Mid-Atlantic is the invasive-species crossroads. Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey score high not because of heat but because Lyme disease, spotted lanternfly and the Asian longhorned tick overlap there.
- Hawaii and Arizona are special cases. Both rank lower than their climates suggest because many mainland invaders are absent, but Hawaii carries the heaviest termite zone and Arizona has scorpions and Africanized bees our six indicators don't capture.
- Cold doesn't mean pest-free. Northern New England and the upper Midwest score low overall, yet Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Wisconsin are all CDC high-incidence Lyme states.
How the Score Works
The Pest Pressure Score (0–100) adds up three things, then scales the total so the maximum possible is 100:
- Termite risk (up to 30 pts): the predominant termite infestation probability zone covering the state, based on the zone map in the International Residential Code. Very heavy = 30, moderate to heavy = 22, slight to moderate = 12, none to slight = 4.
- Climate (up to 30 pts): the state's long-term average annual temperature, scaled from Alaska (lowest) to Florida (highest). Warmth lengthens breeding seasons and improves overwintering survival.
- High-impact pests (8 pts each, up to 48): one point block for each of six pests present in all or part of the state: imported fire ants (federal quarantine), Formosan subterranean termites (established), Lyme disease (CDC high-incidence state), spotted lanternfly (USDA-listed population), Asian longhorned tick (reported by USDA or state agencies), and brown recluse spiders (native range).
Limitations: presence is counted at the state level, so a state with fire ants in one county scores the same on that indicator as a fully infested state. Termite zones and the brown recluse range cross state lines; we assign each state its predominant category. Invasive species ranges change quickly, and the data reflects sources available as of October 2026. This is a comparative index for awareness, not a measure of any individual property's risk.
Sources
- USDA APHIS, Imported Fire Ant quarantine (7 CFR 301.81-3), including the August 2025 removal of Doña Ana County, NM.
- USDA APHIS, Spotted Lanternfly state list.
- CDC, Lyme disease surveillance: high-incidence states (≥10 confirmed cases per 100,000).
- USDA APHIS and CDC Asian longhorned tick reports, plus 2025–2026 state confirmations (Alabama, Arkansas, Wisconsin Extension).
- Formosan subterranean termite distribution: state extension services and published surveys (University of Florida, Mississippi State, Clemson).
- International Code Council, International Residential Code termite infestation probability map.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, statewide average annual temperatures.
- Brown recluse native range: university extension entomology publications.
For local guidance, contact your state extension service or find a licensed pest control company in your state.
Use This Map
Journalists, bloggers and educators are welcome to share or cite this data with a link back to this page.
Last updated October 2026.