MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Terminix, a leading provider of termite and pest control services and a ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) company, today released its ranking of the top 50 most termite-infested metro areas in the country in honor of Termite Awareness Week, with Mobile, Ala. securing the top spot.
Cities in the southern United States dominated the list. Florida and Texas each had seven cities on the list, while California and Tennessee followed close behind with five and four cities, respectively. Alabama, Louisiana and Kentucky each had three cities make the Top 50.
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Terminix based its ranking on the number of termite treatments per household in the past year*. The top 50 cities for termite infestations in the United States are: |
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1. Mobile, Ala. |
18. Oklahoma City | 35. Chattanooga, Tenn. | ||||||
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2. Honolulu |
19. San Diego | 36. Huntsville, Ala. | ||||||
| 3. Baton Rouge, La. | 20. Montgomery, Ala. | 37. Austin, Texas | ||||||
| 4. Little Rock, Ark. | 21. San Antonio | 38. Baltimore | ||||||
| 5. Fort Smith, Ark. | 22. Jackson, Miss. | 39. New York | ||||||
| 6. Memphis, Tenn. | 23. Cincinnati | 40. Evansville, Ind. | ||||||
| 7. Tyler-Longview, Texas | 24. Shreveport, La. | 41. Philadelphia | ||||||
| 8. Miami | 25. Tallahassee, Fla. | 42. Louisville, Ky. | ||||||
| 9. Phoenix | 26. Tucson, Ariz. | 43. Lafayette, La. | ||||||
| 10. Dallas | 27. Atlanta | 44. San Francisco | ||||||
| 11. Los Angeles | 28. Waco, Texas | 45. Springfield, Mo. | ||||||
| 12. West Palm Beach, Fla. | 29. Tulsa, Okla. | 46. Harlingen, Texas | ||||||
| 13. Houston | 30. Nashville, Tenn. | 47. Fort Myers, Fla. | ||||||
| 14. Paducah, Ky. | 31. Fresno, Calif. | 48. Sacramento, Calif. | ||||||
| 15. Jacksonville, Fla. | 32. Johnson City, Tenn. | 49. Dayton, Ohio | ||||||
| 16. Orlando, Fla. | 33. Washington, D.C. | 50. Lexington, Ky. | ||||||
| 17. Tampa, Fla. | 34. Savannah, Ga. | |||||||
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“We understand the devastating effects that termites can have on communities,” said Matthew Stevenson, president of Terminix Residential. “With warm spring weather just around the corner, those living in areas that experience damp and humid conditions are more susceptible to the impact of termites and should be mindful of early infestation warning signs.”
Termite warning signs depend on the species of termite and could include:
- Termites emerging from wall or posts
- 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 resembling sawdust or coffee grounds
- Mud tubes, which look like pencil-sized dirt tunnels, near the base of the home
Early detection and licensed, professional termite control can help prevent a small termite problem from becoming an expensive ordeal.
Terminix recommends that homeowners have their homes inspected at least once a year. Along with scheduling a free termite inspection with Terminix, homeowners can take simple measures to help reduce the risk of a termite infestation, including:
- Storing all firewood away from the home on raised, non-wood platforms.
- Ensuring four inches of the foundation is showing and that no mulch touches the home. Siding should not extend down to the soil.
- Being sure bushes or landscaping are at least two feet away from the edge of the home.
- Keeping drainage systems unblocked and routed away from the home to avoid water buildup.
- Eliminate any water leaks or moisture buildups from the home.
For more information, visit Terminix.com or call your local Terminix branch.
*This ranking was created by compiling termite-specific data of services rendered at more than 300 Terminix branches across the country. The rankings represent Designated Market Areas (DMAs) of over 200,000 single-family households with the highest number of termite treatments per household between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018.
About Terminix
Terminix is the leading provider of termite and pest control services in the United States. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., Terminix services approximately 2.8 million residential and commercial customers in 47 states and 18 countries. Terminix provides pest control services and protection against termites, rodents and other pests. Terminix is a business unit of ServiceMaster Global Holdings, Inc. (SERV), a leading provider of essential residential and commercial services. Terminix is the Official Pest Control Partner of Minor League Baseball™. To learn more about Terminix, visit www.Terminix.com.
About ServiceMaster
ServiceMaster (NYSE: SERV) solves the homeowner’s dilemma. Every day, we visit tens of thousands of homes and businesses through our extensive service network of expert professionals. Our well-recognized brands include AmeriSpec (home inspections), Copesan (commercial national accounts pest management), Furniture Medic (furniture and cabinet repair), Merry Maids (residential cleaning), ServiceMaster Clean (janitorial and residential floor cleaning), ServiceMaster Restore (disaster restoration), Terminix (termite and pest control), Terminix Commercial (commercial termite and pest control). Like, follow or visit us at facebook.com/ServiceMaster, linkedin.com/ServiceMaster,twitter.com/ServiceMaster, or servicemaster.com. ServiceMaster is the Official Home Services Provider of Minor League Baseball™.