Termites

If You Stay Right here, Put together for an Inflow of Termites, Specialists Say

July 20, 2021

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While rarely known for biting humans, termites are possibly one of the most terrifying pests on the market thanks to the massive damage they can do to homes and other buildings in a short amount of time. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), termites destroy parts of around 600,000 U.S. homes and cause nearly $ 40 billion in damage worldwide. And unfortunately, if you live in any particular area in the United States, your risk of encountering these destructive pests will skyrocket this year.

In a recent interview with WSVN, Thomas ChouvencDr right now.

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Supertermites typically colonize trees and hollow them out when they eat, weakening the trees and making them particularly susceptible to breaking or uprooting during hurricanes. Once the termite-infested trees reach the ground, the termites that live in them look for new food sources – including nearby structures. However, unlike the drywood or wetwood termites that most people are familiar with, supertermites cannot be eliminated by fumigation alone, but must be chemically eradicated from homes using bait or other means.

If you’re worried about having termites in your home, experts at the University of Florida’s Department of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF / IFAS) recommend looking for dead insects or losing wings in your home, wooden surfaces that have been hollowed out, and mud pipes the outside of your home.

While Florida bears the brunt of this year’s termite infestation due to its hurricane season, it is nowhere near the only part of the country that has seen major termite activity recently. Read on to find out which U.S. cities received the most termite treatments between February 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021, according to pest control company Orkin.

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