Warmer Temps Bring Increased Termite Activity
Terminix Advises Homeowners to Look for Common Signs of Termite Damage
Termites continue to gnaw at the minds of consumers in California,
Texas, and Florida, according to a ranking released today by Terminix
®,
the leading provider of termite and pest control services. Los Angeles,
San Jose and San Diego made the top three spots, with Dallas following
at No. 4.
The timing of Terminix's announcement coincides with the beginning of
subterranean termite swarm season - when groups of subterranean termites
leave their colonies to start new ones. Swarming typically occurs once
the weather begins to warm and after there has been a significant amount
of rain. Terminix advises residents of these 20 hot spots to remain
vigilant against signs of termite activity:
1. Los Angeles, Calif.
2. San Jose, Calif.
3. San Diego, Calif.
4. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
5. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.
6. Miami, Fla.
7. Houston, Texas
8. Boston, Mass.
9. Atlanta, Ga.
10. Washington D.C.
11. Philadelphia, Pa.
12. Sacramento, Calif.
13. Oklahoma City, Okla.
14. Tampa, Fla.
15. Detroit, Mich.
16. Denver, Colo.
17. St. Louis, Mo.
18. Kansas City, Mo.
19. San Antonio, Texas
20. New York, N.Y.
This ranking was created by compiling termite-specific inbound lead data
from more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings
represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) with the highest volume
of leads throughout 2015.
Los Angeles remains at the top of the list for the second year in a row,
with the number of Californian cities jumping from four to five.
Philadelphia rose by five spots, while Oklahoma City dropped three.
Termite colonies are found in every state except Alaska, so despite
their tendency to settle in warm climates, any city could be at risk for
infestation.
"Weather patterns may have contributed to the decrease in termite swarm
reports over the past decade," said Paul Curtis, board certified
entomologist and manager of technical services at Terminix. "Recent
forecasts of warmer, wetter weather could be favorable for termite
swarming. But it's important to remember that termites do not depend on
swarming to flourish and can cause serious damage in homes, business and
other structures over time."
Termite damage can cost homeowners an average of $8,000 in services and
repairs, and the critters are responsible for more than $5 billion in
damage each year across the United States. Unfortunately, most
homeowners' insurance plans don't cover these costs.
To prevent paying these fees, Terminix encourages homeowners to remain
alert for signs of infestation. Here are four things to look for:
-
Discarded insect wings near doors or windowsills
-
Hexagonal-shaped droppings resembling sawdust or coffee grounds
-
Pencil-sized mud tubes, dark spots or blister-like protrusions that
appear in wood
-
Areas below and behind walls, floors and other surfaces that sound
hollow when tapped, indicating wood damage
If homeowners see one or more of these infestation indicators, they
should contact a professional pest control company, like Terminix, to
schedule a free inspection.
Terminix can offer homeowners dealing with a termite infestation its Ultimate
Protection® Package - guaranteed protection against termite and pest
threats to achieve better peace of mind. Homes that qualify for the
Ultimate Protection Package receive annual inspections to monitor for
termite activity and regular exterior treatments to prevent pests like
ants, cockroaches and spiders from entering. If termite activity or
damage is ever detected while under the plan, the structure will be
treated and the damage repair costs covered by Terminix.
About Terminix ®
Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in
the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services
approximately 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47
states and 22 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and
protection against termites, rodents and other pests threatening human
health and/or safety. Terminix is a business unit of ServiceMaster
Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SERV), a leading provider of essential
residential and commercial services. To learn more about Terminix, visit www.Terminix.com.
About ServiceMaster ®
ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SERV) is a leading provider of
essential residential and commercial services, operating through an
extensive service network of more than 8,000 company-owned, franchised
and licensed locations. The company's portfolio of well-recognized
brands includes American Home Shield (home warranties), AmeriSpec (home
inspections), Furniture Medic (furniture repair), Merry Maids
(residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial), ServiceMaster
Restore (disaster restoration) and Terminix (termite and pest control).
We serve residential and commercial customers through an employee base
of approximately 13,000 company associates and a franchise network that
independently employs an estimated 33,000 additional people. The company
is headquartered in Memphis, Tenn. Go to www.servicemaster.com for
more information about ServiceMaster or follow the company at twitter.com/ServiceMaster or facebook.com/ServiceMaster.
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ServiceMaster
Michael Wassmer, 901-597-1706
Michael.wassmer@servicemaster.com
or
Maria Opatz, 612-215-9815
mopatz@olson.com