Pest Control Experts See Termite Activity On The Rise in Polk County

As Polk Countystruggles with an uptick in subterranean termite activity, experts advise homeowners to eliminate wood-to-soil contact between the ground and home. They also suggest getting your home inspected twice a year. (PHOTO PROVIDED BY TERMINIX)

LAKELAND | Randy and Tammy Baugh had their first brush with termites three years ago.

The Lakeland couple called a pest control company, which drilled small holes into their front porch and outfitted them with termite bait stations on the exterior of their home.

"They (pest control company) come back four times a year, and if there's any activity they drop in the poison," Randy Baugh said. "We haven't had any activity for the past year."

The rest of Polk hasn't been quite as lucky, according to a few pest control experts who service the county.

Randall Durden, owner of Lake Alfred-based Total Pest Solutions, said there has been a significant uptick in subterranean termite activity this year.

"It had slowed down in the last five years," said Durden, whose business has been around for eight years. "But this year we've already gotten a couple hundred calls, which is about triple what we usually get."

According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause $5 billion worth of damage in the United States each year.

The two major types of termites found in Polk County are subterranean and drywood.

Subterranean termites the most common type of termite found in the U.S. come from underground colonies in the soil and rely on moisture to protect them from the drying effects of air. Drywood termites live within dry wood sources, so they do not rely on contact with the soil to survive.

Continue reading here:
Pest Control Experts See Termite Activity On The Rise in Polk County