Termite Populations Are Expanding, But Why? We hear a lot about termites, and they are certainly common in the United States, but where? When it comes to ticks, for example, most of the American public knows that ticks are commonly found in the northeast portion of the US, as well as a few other regions. However, most Americans have no clue as to where termite populations thrive. Perhaps this is because termites do not cause disease like ticks can, so knowing where to find dangerous ticks is a matter of public health. But despite the fact that termites don't spread disease, termites can still cause tragic, and life changing problems. Therefore, knowing if you live in a region where termite populations are high can only be a benefit. In the United States, the most common type of termite is the subterranean termite. Since these termites are the most common termites in the US, they are also the most damaging. There are several species of subterranean termite found within the US. Three of these species dwell only within the eastern US, and a fourth species dwells on the west coast. There is also a fifth species of termite, but these termites dwell only within the Rocky Mountains. There are a few more types of termites in the US, but the remaining termites are not widely distributed. The Formosan termite is one of these termites, and probably the most well known. However, one day the United States could be full of little termites because they may be expanding to new regions as a result of climate change. As the winters get warmer, termites will be able to live in more northern parts of the US. Also, the hotter summers mean that termites in the north will begin to create larger colonies. So global warming also causes more termites to roam the earth--now you can add that to your list of the consequences of global warming. Do you live in a region where an unusual termite is common? If you do, then which type of termite dwells in your area?