The warm weather is finally here, but that’s not all that great news for many homeowners. With warm weather comes termites, and with termites comes significant structural damage and financial issues.
“Now that spring has arrived, we often see an increase not only in temperatures but also in pest-related activity, especially with termites,” said termite expert Joe Magyar in a recent press release. “For homeowners living in areas that experience damp and humid weather conditions, it’s important to be aware of early warning signs for termites before damage becomes significant.”
Unfortunately, termites damage a minimum of 600,000 residential structures across the U.S. each year, primarily in areas close to oceans and other large bodies of water.
Now, a new report featuring the top 25 cities across the country that have the most termite issues has been released, according to Business Wire. The majority of termite cases are found in the Southeast and on the West coast along the shoreline. Here are the top 25 U.S. cities for termite infestations across the nation:
- Houston, Texas
- Los Angeles, California
- Mobile, Alabama
- San Antonio, Texas
- San Diego, California
- Dallas, Texas
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Miami, Florida
- Tampa, Florida
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Orlando, Florida
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sacramento, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- San Jose, California
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Savannah, Georgia
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Tuscon, Arizona
- Louisville, Kentucky
Since California is perhaps the most popular for termite infestations (aside from Florida), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is stepping in to help out the entire state. According to the Visalia Times Delta, the USDA is giving California $14.8 million to strengthen the state’s ability to fight pests such as termites.
“We are pleased to partner with California to provide critical farm bill funds that will put innovative ideas into action and help us overcome our shared invasive pest and disease challenges,” added Greg Ibach, Under Secretary for the USDA. “California is a critical partner in protecting U.S. agriculture.”