The termites were introduced into the United States in the 1940s. They were believed to have infested crates, pallets and packing materials that shipped supplies and troops home from the Pacific at the end of World War II, according to the Agricultural Research Service. In the 60 years since, the termites have spread to California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Hawaii. Termites, Formosan and native, love Florida, which alone accounts for 25 percent of all termite damage nationwide. One of the biggest problems with termites is that they're silent and seemingly invisible.
Prevention is the key.
Murray said yearly inspections by a qualified technician are important. Even homes that aren't wood can be threatened. Door sills and window sills, even beams inside the home are targets. Termites enter homes in several ways, including through expansion joints in concrete slabs or utility conduits. They can also be drawn to homes through lumber or firewood piles, wooden trellises leaning against the home or even mulch.