Last Year's Heavy Rainfall Could Give Termite Season More Bite

That swarm of insects that just flew by may want to eat your house.

It's termite season, says Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson. "Now is the time to take protective action to avoid costly damage. This swarming season appears to be more active, perhaps because of last year's substantial rainfall."

In Highlands County, Quality Pest Control owner Gregory Carmichael hasn't seen swarms yet.

"And I haven't gotten any calls," he said.

But when temperatures and humidity start climbing, that's nature's signal to small, black swarmers: it's their best chance to leave the queen's nest and start a new family.

"They normally start swarming in February, so this is a little late," Carmichael said. February 2009 has been cooler than usual. "I've seen them start in late January, clear up through April."

"The question isn't whether termites are in the area, but rather how close they are to your home," Bronson said.

About half of Florida homes don't have termite protection, Bronson said, but termite damage can be extensive by the time a homeowner notices sawdust or other evidence.

The two main types of termites in Florida are subterranean, which live in the soil and attack homes from the ground up, and dry wood, which live in a building and can go undetected until they cause visible damage. Termites often nest in outbuildings, in piles of wood left on the ground, or in tree stumps.

"Poor construction is one the biggest causes," Carmichael said. Stucco over frame houses, for instance, may extend the wood below ground level, which allows subterranean termites to enter the home, unseen.

"Anytime you cut down a tree, the stump and the root dies, and that's perfect termite food," Carmichael explained. "They're just doing what nature intended."

"Most people don't know they've got termites until they see the swarm," Carmichael said.

Licenses And Contracts

Twenty-eight pest control services are listed in the Highlands County business pages. Which one to choose?

Consumers can contact the Division of Agricultural Environmental Services, which regulates pest control companies, to determine if a business is licensed and if consumer complaints have been filed. The division also inspects to ensure a company is abiding by the Florida Pest Control Act, which governs pesticides and pest control businesses.

"These companies are working with chemicals," Bronson said. "People trying to save a buck by hiring an unlicensed business are putting their families' safety at risk."

Bronson said consumers should find out before they sign the contract whether it covers repair costs after termite damage or just provides for retreatment if termites are found.

Carmichael said Quality Pest Control does not sell repair contracts, which are essentially insurance policies. Most won't pay for hidden damage, which Carmichael said could include wall studs and ceiling joists.

A business might not pay for repairs if no live termites are found, Bronson said, or if moisture from an unrepaired plumbing leak contributed to the termite infestation.

More information about termite protection is available at www.termitehelp.org or at 800-435-7352.