TAMPA, Fla. — As we flirt with record-high temperatures, there are other things you have to worry about besides cooling yourself down —like termites.
Florida is the No. 1 state for termite activity, largely because of our hot, humid weather. Termite swarm season typically starts in April and goes through June, depending on the species, and weather plays a huge role in that.
Dave Bradford with PurCor Pest Solutions says termites are really a year-round problem in Florida, but swarm season is starting a little later this year because January and February were a little cooler. So now is the time to be on the lookout for swarms.
Termite colonies look for new food sources on hot, dry days.
"So if you see wings laying around, particularly on windowsills because they're drawn to light, and you see wings and think 'wow that's weird, I've never seen wings before', it's probably a sign that they're in the area," Bradford said. "And if you see wings on the inside because they're trying to get out, they've already made it in your home."
He says if your neighbors have termites, then you should get your home checked out as well.
So the key is really to be aware of what's going on not only inside your home but around the outside as well. Bradford says if you do notice termites, get them treated as early as possible.
"The tents that you see, which are fumigations, are circumstances where maybe it wasn't caught early or it's gone on too long, but if you catch it early enough, you can do several treatments," he said. "There's liquid treatments for subterranean, you can do spot treatments."
Bradford says you can also take preventative measures as well with bait stations. Many new home builds also come with termite preventatives, but you have to keep up with it.
He says all homeowners should be getting a yearly inspection by a pest control expert to keep out or control any tiny invaders.
To learn more about termites and how to prevent infestations, click or tap here.