Miami Worst US City For Termites: Study

MIAMI, FL – Known for its endless summers and turquoise waters, Miami also holds a dubious distinction you won't be seeing in the tourist brochures, according to a new study.

"Orkin reveals Miami as the front-runner of its first ever Top 50 Termites Cities list," the pest control company declared in releasing its findings Monday.

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Los Angeles came in second place followed by Tampa, New York and New Orleans. Indeed, the Sunshine State accounted for five of the 25 worst cities for termites and six of the worst 50 in the United States.

In addition to Miami and Tampa, West Palm Beach came in eighth. Orlando finished twelfth. Fort Myers ranked 21st and Jacksonville came in 38th.

"When it comes to types of termites, all areas of the U.S. are prone to subterranean termites with concentrations from slight to very heavy. Pacific U.S. and coastal regions of the Southeast have an additional threat of drywood termites," said the pest company.

The list was compiled from treatment data in the metro areas where Orkin performed the most first-time customer termite treatments between Feb. 1, 2018 and Jan. 31, 2019. The ranking includes both residential and commercial locations.

“Often called the ‘silent destroyer,’ termites can secretly hide and thrive in your home, property or yard without any immediate signs of damage for years,” explained Orkin entomologist Glen Ramsey. “U.S. residents spend an estimated $5 billion annually to control termites and repair termite damage – which occurs in approximately 600,000 homes each year.”

The pest control company said termites chew constantly and cause extensive damage over time. They can enter structures through wood-to-ground contact by building shelter tubes or entering through cracks in the foundation about the thickness of a business card.

Here is the complete list:

1. Miami
2. Los Angeles
3. Tampa
4. New York
5. New Orleans
6. Atlanta
7. Washington, D.C.
8. West Palm Beach
9. San Francisco
10. Dallas
11. San Diego
12. Orlando
13. Phoenix
14. Houston
15. Raleigh, North Carolina
16. Philadelphia
17. Baltimore
18. Nashville
19. Chicago
20. Charlotte, North Carolina
21. Ft. Myers
22. Norfolk, Virginia
23. Knoxville
24. Greenville, South Carolina
25. Charleston, West Virginia
26. Mobile, Alabama
27. Indianapolis
28. Cincinnati
29. Pittsburgh
30. Kansas City
31. Richmond, Virginia
32. Honolulu
33. St. Louis
34. Oklahoma City
35. Tulsa
36. Denver
37. Columbia, South Carolina
38. Jacksonville
39. Lexington, Kentucky
40. San Antonio
41. Chattanooga, Tennessee
42. Columbus, Ohio
43. Grand Rapids, Michigan
44. Boston
45. Charleston, South Carolina.
46. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
47. Louisville, Kentucky
48. Savannah, Georgia.
49. Roanoke, Virginia.
50. Champaign, Illinois