If you live in the United States, you live under the constant threat of costly termite or carpenter ant infestation. There are 3 families and several dozen species of termites tunneling through homes in regions where average annual temperatures are above 50 degrees.
Some termites range north into colder climes where they enjoy the warmth of centrally heated homes.
They nest underground and attack homes as far north as the Canadian border. Drywood termites restrict their attack of wood structures to a narrow geographic band that extends from Florida to California. Dampwood termites are a local villain in the Pacific Northwest. Carpenter ants thrive in damp climates like those found in our densely populated coastal regions. However, they are accidental tourists in the dryer Southwestern states.