Tampa is battling a serious termite problem, landing among the top three most termite-infested cities in the country, according to a new report from Orkin.

The pest control company released its 2025 rankings, which are based on the number of residential termite treatments performed between January 1 and December 31, 2024.

For the third consecutive year, Tampa made the top three, coming in at No. 3 overall. Miami topped the list as the most termite-infested city in the U.S., followed by Los Angeles in second place.

Experts at Orkin attribute the high activity in these cities to their warm climates — an ideal environment for termites to thrive.

“Termites cause roughly $5 billion in damage to American homes every year, often without being noticed until it’s too late,” said Glen Ramsey, Director of the Entomology Team at Orkin. “That’s why spring is a crucial time for homeowners to consider preventive measures.”

Termites are more widespread than many realize. Orkin notes that while there are over 2,000 species of termites worldwide, about 40 are active in the U.S.

Homeowners are advised to stay vigilant for signs of infestation, including:

• Swarms of small, winged insects inside the home or around soil outdoors
• Cracked or bubbling paint, or wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• Mud tubes on exterior walls, wood beams, or in crawl spaces
• Discarded wings or piles of frass (termite droppings)
  

Here are the top 10 cities with the highest termite activity (four of them are located in Florida), according to Orkin:

1. Miami
2. Los Angeles
3. Tampa, FL
4. Washington, D.C.
5. Orlando, FL
6. West Palm Beach, FL
7. Houston
8. San Diego
9. Baltimore
10. Dallas

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