The actions are being taken, Crawford said, because of the potentially serious economic losses to property owners from failing to perform these treatments properly.
Termites can invade and cause thousands of dollars in damage to unprotected homes.
The administrative complaints allege that the companies applied treatments that were deficient in the volume and concentration of chemical protectant that should have been applied. Deficient treatments leave the structure vulnerable to invasion by subterranean termites, which occur everywhere in Florida. Treatments done properly require application of the correct volume and concentration of a chemical barrier around and under building foundations during construction to prevent termite attack. The complaint against Killingsworth Environmental Inc. alleges that the company made applications at three locations that were as low as one third the required amount, and at one location with a mixture ten times below the required concentration. The complaint against EcoTech Services alleges that the company performed pre-treatments on three sites that were as low as half the required volume, and at one site with a chemical concentration ten times below the required level.