The warmer the temperature, the more active the termites are and the more they infest your home. Naturally, some locations in the USA are more humid and warmer than others, which also means these areas are more susceptible to termite infestation and damage.
What cities are most infested with termites?
According to several top lists, including those from the biggest Pest Management Professionals such as Orkin, Terminix, Truly Nolen, Rentokil, or Anticimex, the cities that are repeatedly among the most termite infested are the following:
- Miami, FL
- Los Angeles, CA
- Dallas, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Nashville, TN
- Phoenix, AZ
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Cincinnati, OH
- Washington DC
- Jacksonville, FL
- Memphis, TN
- Pittsburgh, PA
- San Francisco, CA
Take a look at the TOP 50 Termite infested cities by Terminix:
Why are these cities infested with termites?
During swarming seasons, termites seek out food and moisture, however, different types of termites look for different things. Subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae), need constant contact with soil to reach water and are mostly found in North America, whereas drywood termites (Kalotermitidae) specifically look for dry wood, as their name would suggest. As for dampwood termites (Hodotermitidae and Termopsidae), they look for wood that is extremely humid to establish their colony.
Geographic location contributes to the likelihood that homeowners will experience infestations. Warm weather and constant humidity mean that residents in the south are the most likely to experience termite activity.
What are the worst U.S States for termites?
Termite control companies and entomologists refer to the states with extreme termite pressure as the “termite belt“. These states are mainly:
- Florida
- Georgia
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Texas
- California
The termite belt is located in the south of the US as you can see on the map below.
Concentration of termites in the USA and homeowner termite risk:
Location also depends on the termite species Here are the most infested cities by Formosan termites.