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Termite Statistics

Recent Stats about Termite Damage, Treatment, & Costs

Termites are small, wood-destroying insects that can nest and cause damage around homes with few signs of activity. To counteract their destructive habits, academic experts (entomologists), pest control companies and termite control product manufacturers continually work together to study this insect's biology and behavior. By increasing understanding of this pest, more effective control methods can be developed to specifically target and control termite infestations, reduce the likelihood of damage and potentially, decrease this pest's spread.

In studying termites, biology and behavior, experts have calculated termite statistics that help pest control technicians understand the amount of damage a termite colony can inflict in a certain period of time. For example, scientists believe that most termite species eat 2 or 3 percent of their body weight each day. Based on the type of termite infesting a home or building, scientists can estimate the size of a colony and multiply this number by the amount of wood consumed by an individual termite to estimate the rate of damage caused by the colony.

Because Formosan termites (the most aggressive species of subterranean termite) form the largest colonies, up to 2 million individuals each, they are likely to cause the greatest amount of damage in the least amount of time. In general, subterranean termites tend to form larger colonies than drywood termites, so subterranean termite colonies typically damage homes more quickly than drywood termites.

Termite Damage Statistics

  • Termites damage approximately 600,000 homes in the U.S. each year.
  • U.S. residents spend an estimated $5 billion annually to control termites and repair termite damage.
  • According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. residents spend at least $1 billion on Formosan termite control and repairs each year. Some experts estimate the number is closer to $2 billion.

Recent Statistics about Termite Damage

It is impossible to look at damage and determine how long it took to occur. There are too many variables to quantify this. Termites cause $5 billion in damage each year in the US. The US termite control market is approximately $2 billion.

Recent Statistics about Termite Treatment Products

Probably the most popular liquid soil treatment for subterranean termites is Termidor. Sentricon is the most popular bait and BoraCare is the most popular liquid. For drywood termites, Vikane is the most widely used control product.

Recent Statistics about Termites

The US Forest Service studies termites and termite control products; however, there is no agency which tracks statistics of termite control or damage. National groups estimate damage at $5 billion and treatments to control termites at exceeding $2 billion.

Recent Statistics about the Cost of Termite Treatment

Termites cause about $5 billion in damage to property in the US each year and termite control costs homeowners about $2 billion each year. There are over 600,000 homes treated for termites each year, making termites an important pest.

Termite Infestation Probability Zones Map

Termite Infestation Probability Zones (TIP Zones) are used to determine whether inspection or prevention is required for protecting homes against termites.

Termite Statistics

Subterranean termites cause over $5 billion in damage each year in the United States. Consumers spend about $2 billion on control of this pest annually. Subterranean termites cause most damage with the Formosan termite the most concerning.