Tampa, Miami Make Most Termite-Infested Cities List

Miami and Tampa made another Top 10 list, but it's unlikely either city will be bragging about this one. The pest control company Terminix has revealed the 25 most termite-infested cities in the country. Houston took the top spot for 2017, followed by Los Angeles and Mobile, Alabama.

Two other Florida cities made the list: Jacksonville (No. 8) and Orlando (No. 12). Miami and Tampa ranked 9th and 10th, respectively.

“Now that spring has arrived, we often see an increase not only in temperatures but also in pest-related activity, especially with termites,” said Joe Magyar, regional training manager for Terminix. “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.”

The top 25 cities for termite infestations in the United States are:

1. Houston
2. Los Angeles
3. Mobile, Ala.
4. San Antonio
5. San Diego
6. Dallas
7. Memphis, Tenn.
8. Jacksonville, Fla.
9. Miami
10. Tampa, Fla.
11. Phoenix
12. Orlando, Fla.
13. Atlanta
14. Cincinnati
15. Philadelphia
16. Sacramento, Calif.
17. Honolulu
18. San Jose, Calif.
19. Baton Rouge, La.
20. Pittsburgh
21. Savannah, Ga.
22. Nashville, Tenn.
23. Little Rock, Ark.
24. Tucson, Ariz.
25. Louisville, Ky.

Depending on the species, Terminix says termite warning signs could include:

• Blisters in wood flooring, which look like small cracks or holes
• Hollowed or damaged wood
• Evidence of the pests themselves, such as discarded wings
• Droppings that resemble sawdust or coffee grounds
• Mud tubes, which look like pencil-sized dirt tunnels, near the base of the home

The Terminix ranking was created by compiling termite-specific data of services rendered at more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent Metropolitan Statistical Areas with the highest number of actual services between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 31, 2017.

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