Climate change affects the world in large and small ways, but many probably do not consider the termite in this global problem. As a species suited for tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions, the termite’s stomping grounds are around the Southeast like Alabama and Florida.
However, as the National Library of Medicine notes, termite migration threatens to expand as temperatures shift and warm.
A study of 13 species
According to a study designed to model the potential expansion of invasive termites, researchers predicted that 12 of the 13 species they examined may expand significantly around the globe. This not only threatens local ecosystems—it is a threat to houses for communities who did not need to worry about these pests prior.
Some of the predictive models estimated expansions as Northward as Canada and suggested that increased expansion may lead to hybrid species with twice the colony growth rate of other colonies.
A pest for homeowners
No matter what state a homeowner lives in, termites may be a problem to reckon with now or in the years to come. As the New Haven Register reports, it may take anywhere between three to eight years to notice the damage. The annual amount of structural damage in a year is in the billions of dollars.
Once noticed, the situation requires action immediately. Pesticides and prevention may clear out the colony, but repairing the damage takes time and money. For many, it may even cause mental anguish—especially if this was a problem before purchasing the home or if pest control fails to contain the problem.
In these situations, recovering compensation from those failing to disclose infestations or for damage caused by termites is possible.
