March 29, 2017
Ready to be grossed out?
Philadelphia has been ranked one of the most termite-infested cities in the nation – and is the only Northeast city to earn a spot on the list.
Terminix, a pest control company, recently compiled the rankings based on the highest volume of termite services in more than 300 branches throughout 2016. The company came out with the list ahead of spring temperatures, when the pests are most reported.
Philly came in at No. 14 on the list, one spot below San Diego and one above Little Rock, Arkansas.
"We consistently see higher levels of termite activity in the southern United States, particularly in and around coastal cities where the weather is damp and humid – the perfect environment for a growing termite colony," Paul Curtis, manager of technical services for Terminix, said in a news release.
Terminix warned that any city featured on the list should keep an eye out for termites as the weather begins to warm up.
Termites cause about $40 billion in damages around the world and destroy 600,000 homes across the nation every year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Terminix recommends that homeowners take steps to prevent infestation this season by trimming shrubbery around the outside of a home to allow airflow, use synthetic products when landscaping, seal up leaks and ventilate crawl spaces.
It's not the first time Philly's received such a high honor. The City of Brotherly Love was named the most rodent-infested city in the nation in January. It was found to be one of the most bed bug infested cities, too.
Mobile, Alabama, took the No. 1 spot on Terminix's list. Check out the company's complete list here.
