LIST: Tyler-Longview ranked No. 7 on list of top 50 most termite-infested cities

TYLER, Texas — On Wednesday, in honor of Termite Awareness Week, Terminix released its ranking of the top 50 most termite-infested cities in the United States. 

Southern cities dominated the list, with Tyler-Longview coming in at No. 7. 

Termites often flourish in warm, humid environments. Because these pests tend to remain out of sight, they can cause extensive damage before homeowners even realize there is a problem. In fact, the average cost associated with treating and repairing damage from an infestation is more than $8,000. 

The top 50 cities for termite infestations, based on most termite treatments per household, can be seen below:

1. Mobile, Alabama
2. Honolulu, Hawaii
3. Baton Rouge, Louisiana
4. Little Rock, Arkansas
5. Fort Smith, Arkansas
6. Memphis, Tennessee
7. Tyler-Longview, Texas
8. Miami, Florida
9. Phoenix, Arizona
10. Dallas, Texas
11. Los Angeles, California
12. West Palm Beach, Florida
13. Houston, Texas
14. Paducah, Kentucky
15. Jacksonville, Florida
16. Orlando, Florida
17. Tampa, Florida
18. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
19. San Diego, California
20. Montgomery, Alabama
21. San Antonio, Texas
22. Jackson, Mississippi
23. Cincinnati, Ohio
24. Shreveport, Louisiana
25. Tallahassee, Florida
26. Tucson, Arizona
27. Atlanta, Georgia
28. Waco, Texas
29. Tulsa, Oklahoma
30. Nashville, Tennessee
31. Fresno, California
32. Johnson City, Tennessee
33. Washington, D.C.
34. Savannah, Georgia
35. Chattanooga, Tennessee
36. Huntsville, Alabama
37. Austin, Texas
38. Baltimore, Maryland
39. New York, New York
40. Evansville, Indiana
41. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
42. Louisville, Kentucky
43. Lafayette, Louisiana
44. San Francisco, Calfiornia
45. Springfield, Missouri
46. Harlingen, Texas
47. Fort Myers, Florida
48. Sacramento, California
49. Dayton, Ohio
50. Lexington, Kentucky

Early detection and professional termite control can help prevent a small termite problem from becoming an expensive ordeal.

Depending on the species of termite, warning signs of an infestation could include:

• Bugs emerging from walls or posts
• Blisters in wood flooring, which look like small cracks or holes
• Hollowed or damaged wood
• Evidence of the pests themselves, such as discarded wings
• Droppings resembling sawdust or coffee grounds
• Mud tubes, which look like pencil-sized dirt tunnels, near the base of the home