In a recent interview with WSVN, Thomas Chouvenc, PhD, an assistant professor of urban entomology at the University of Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, explained that both subterranean and Formosan termites—dubbed “super termites” due to the exceptional amount of damage they cause—are causing serious trouble in Florida right now. RELATED: If You Live in These States, Prepare for Potentially Paralyzing Mosquitoes. Super termites typically form colonies in trees and hollow them out as they eat, weakening the trees and making them particularly prone to breaking or uprooting during hurricanes. Once the termite-infested trees have hit the ground, the termites living within them seek out new food sources—including nearby structures. However, unlike the drywood or dampwood termites most people are familiar with, super termites can’t be eliminated through fumigation alone, but must be baited or otherwise chemically eradicated from homes. If you’re worried that you may have termites in your home, experts at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) recommend looking for dead insects or shed wings in your home, areas of wood that appear to have been hollowed out, and mud tubes on the exterior of your home. While Florida may be bearing the brunt of this year’s termite infestation due to hurricane season, it’s far from the only part of the country that’s seen some major termite activity recently. Read on to discover which U.S. cities had the most first-time termite treatments between Feb. 1 2020 and Jan. 31, 2021, according to pest control company Orkin. RELATED: If You Live in These States, Prepare to See More Tarantulas. For the latest summer safety news delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter! RELATED: If You See This Bug, Crush It Immediately, USDA Says. RELATED: If You See This Bug, Never Touch It Without Gloves & a Mask, Experts Warn.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb RELATED: If You See This Bug, Call Local Officials Immediately, Experts Warn.
