Entomologist John Cooksey recently told First Coast News that termite season has arrived early due to the mild winter weather being seen throughout the southern states. Without a freeze in December, termite populations are thriving in Jacksonville, Florida, threatening to cause significant damage to property.
According to Cooksey, termites can live underground for several months undetected, and then come up and start ravaging the foundations of homes.
"When you're looking at your home the first thing you'll see, if you have a termite problem, is a huge mass of insects flying out from the colony," Cooksey told the source.
Cooksey said termites typically look like ants, but have four wings that are larger than their bodies. While homeowners can detect termite invasions in their homes, eliminating them can be difficult to accomplish through do-it-yourself strategies, which is why most homeowners will contact professional pest control services to eradicate the insects.
Warning signs of termite infestations include sawdust on the floor, small holes in the wood, mud tubes, damaged drywall or a termite swarm – which is hard to miss.
"They'll be on your window sills," Cooksey told WTEV. "They'll be around your door. It's a sure sign that you've got a problem."
Once a swarm has been sited, the home has likely already experienced significant damage, Cooksey said.