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Termite Swarming Season Is Under Way |
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Saturday, 21 March 2009 |
TERMITE SWARMING SEASON IS UNDER WAY SO TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT YOUR HOME
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H.
Bronson is urging Florida homeowners to take steps to protect their houses from
one of Florida's most expensive pests -- termites. Swarming season is under way
and now is the time to take protective action to avoid costly damage. This
swarming season appears to be more active than the last several years, perhaps
because of last year's substantial rainfall.
Swarming begins when the weather starts warming up. The small, black, winged
insects seen flying around are leaving their colonies looking for new nesting
sites. While swarmers aren't the ones that eat the wood, they are a warning
sign that a house is infested with termites. Houses should be inspected
annually by a licensed professional for evidence of an infestation so damage can
be caught before it becomes significant.
"The climate in Florida makes it especially attractive to termites and there are
a large number of these destructive pests no matter where in the state you
live," Bronson said. "The question isn't whether termites are in the area but
rather how close they are to your home."
Although homes are usually the single largest investment a person will make in
their lifetime, half of the houses in Florida do not have regular termite
protection. Termite damage can be extensive by the time a homeowner notices
sawdust or other evidence.
The department's Division of Agricultural Environmental Services regulates and
licenses pest control companies and can provide homeowners with information
about whether a business is properly licensed, the number of consumer complaints
that have been filed against a company, and the various types of termite control
contracts. The division also conducts regular inspections to ensure a company
is abiding by all the rules and regulations governing pesticides and pest
control businesses. The Florida Pest Control Act includes measures designed to
protect consumers.
"These companies are working with chemicals and it is important that employees
are properly trained and licensed," Bronson said. "People trying to save a buck
by hiring an unlicensed business are putting their families' safety at risk."
The two main types of termites in Florida are subterranean termites, which live
in the soil and attack homes from the ground up, and dry wood termites, which
live in wood in a building and can go undetected until they cause extensive,
visible damage. Businesses are required to clearly tell customers whether their
contract covers one or both types of termites.
Bronson said people should also find out before they sign the contract whether
it covers repair costs for termite damage after a home has been inspected and
treated or just provides for retreatment if termites are found. Repair
contracts typically have limits as to when repairs will be paid for and
consumers should clearly understand these also. For example, a business might
not pay for repairs if there are no live termites found, or if moisture from an
unrepaired plumbing leak contributed to the termite infestation.
More information about termite protection is available at http://www.termitehelp.org
or by calling 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352) or 1-800-FLAYUDA (1-800-352-9832).
Liz Compton
mailto://comptol@doacs.state.fl.us
(850) 488-3022
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