UF/IFAS Okeechobee County Extension Service

458 Highway 98 North

Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578

Phone: (863) 763-6469

E- mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu

January 17, 2005

Feature Article - for release the week of January 23, 2005

Dan Culbert - Extension Horticulture  Agent

They’re BACK!

Cooler temperatures may be lingering in our area, but spring is not far behind here in the Sunshine state.  One of the rites of spring is the annual visits to our office of many homeowners who want to know:  “Is this bug a termite?”

Spring is a good time for termites to move on to new areas, and with the disruptions caused by last year’s storms, we may see them looking for new places to set up housekeeping.  Will it be in your home?

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is warning homeowners that this is the time of year when termites begin to "swarm" or leave their colonies to search for new nesting sites.  Many homeowners discover that they have a termite problem when they find termite swarmers (winged, black insects about 1/4 inch long) in their homes.        

Termites can cause consumers to lose their largest economic asset -- their homes -- and are responsible for over $700 million in costs to consumers in Florida each year for damage and control costs.  Termites are a fact of life in Florida . People need to actively protect their homes by using a licensed professional pest control company to provide termite protection services.

"This is a good time of year for consumers to check their contracts with licensed pest control companies to make sure they are current," Bronson said.  "Anyone who has questions about their pest control contract or company can call us at 1-800-HELPFLA.   Considering the cost of a house, it's frightening to think that about half the homeowners in Florida have not taken steps to protect this investment from these damaging insects."

People who do not have a current termite protection contract are urged to contact several pest control companies and request written estimates and a copy of the contract they offer.  Consumers should not sign a contract until they have compared at least three companies.  Pest control companies are required by law to obtain a signed contract prior to treating a home. 

 Consumers with questions about contracts or the performance of a pest control company can call 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352).

The two main types of termites that affect Florida consumers are subterranean termites, which live in soil and attack structures from the ground up, and drywood termites, which can live in isolated pieces of wood in a structure such as attic rafters and can go undetected until they cause extensive damage.  Licensed pest management professionals have the expertise to inspect and treat for infestations of these termites and provide protective measures for homeowners.

Companies that provide termite control services are licensed and inspected by the Department and consumers can call the toll free number to determine whether a company is properly licensed and to check the complaint history of a business.           

Steps that consumers can take to protect their homes from this destructive pest:           

More information on termites can be found on our web page,  http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu.  If you need additional information on  , please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469.  Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners on Tuesday afternoons from 1 to 5 PM on Tuesday afternoons.  

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References 

UF/IFAS bulletins on Termite are available at the following websites: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_Termites

Other UF/IFAS Termite information available from the Department of Entomology can be found at: http://termitedogs.ifas.ufl.edu/links.htm

Direct Regulatory inquiries to: 

Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS /University of Florida. This page is maintained by Dan Culbert  Hit Counter