Chicago jumps to #5 on this year's Orkin Top Cities Termites List

Spring means termite season, but there are ways you can protect your house from these damaging pests.

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(CHICAGO) Orkin pest lists are not the sort of lists where you want your city to be at the top. But here we are. Recently the folks at Orkin have dubbed Chicago as the number one city for both rats and bed bugs.

And now, Chicago is the city that has made the biggest leap on Orkin's Top 50 Termite Cities List list to climb from the 23rd spot in 2021 to fifth place in 2022.

Termites are commonly found throughout Illinois, including the Chicago region. The queen can lay thousands of eggs during her life span of several years.

How does Orkin decide its list?

According to a news release, Orkin determines its list based on treatment data in metro areas where the company performed the most first-time customer (residential and commercial) termite treatments from February 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022.

What are the top ten Orkin termite cities?

1. Los Angeles
2. Miami
3. Washington, DC
4. Tampa
5. Chicago
6. Atlanta
7. New York
8. Raleigh
9. Dallas
10. Orlando

Why are termites often called the "silent destroyers"?

Glen Ramsey, Orkin entomologist, explained in the press release, "Termites are able to hide in your home for years, secretly damaging your home without ever being acknowledged," he said. "Some species of termite queens lay millions of eggs each year that hatch and grow into wood-eating machines, wreaking havoc within the foundation of your home and causing extensive damage. Therefore, it's important to take action on preventative measures that will protect your home."

What are signs homeowners should look out for?

According to the experts at Orkin, you should watch out for the following signs of an infestation around your house.

• Paint that is cracked or bubbling
• Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
• Mud tubes on walls and wooden beams. You may see these on exterior concrete walls or foundations. Sometimes they are hidden inside walls, crawlspaces, or behind baseboards.
• Finding a swarm of termites in or around your house
• Termite droppings seen in or around the house. These are 1-millimeter size pellets that may look like piles of salt or pepper.

Termites love moisture and rotting wood. Orkin recommends homeowners monitor areas that could collect moisture, clear areas with rotting wood or excess mulch around the house, and seal gaps around pipes or other fixtures to avoid possible entry of termites.