Here's one for you: According to those in the know at the Entomological Society of America, you can expect insect populations to be more active than in recent years, and believe it or not, all because of recent changes in the weather. "Weather or not"- structural pests left unchecked can become a costly proposition for a homeowner.

Here are a few statistics that may encourage you to take action if you suspect a termite invasion has occurred at your place:

Termites cause more than $2.5 billion in damage to U.S. homes each year - that's more than fire, storms and earthquakes combined!

Fifty billion termites infest about one million U.S. homes (one in every 30 U.S. homes) each year.

Termites can be hidden for 10 to 12 years before a swarm becomes visible. Homeowners insurance does not cover termite damage, so annual inspections are critical and far less costly.

A small colony of approximately 60,000 termites can eat a linear foot of a 2-by-4 in about five months.

Several termite colonies could be present in as little as one acre of land and contain more than one million termites.

Our recommendation: Have your home inspected for termites on a regular basis. In areas where termites are known to be doing major damage, we suggest that you have your home inspected by a structural pest control operator (termite contractor) at least once a year.

By the way, if you are considering a new home, make sure that the builder has treated the area with an approved termiticide that will discourage the tiny buggers from eating away at the structure.

If you would like to try a do-it-yourself approach, there is a Web site you should check out - www.doityourselftermitecontrol.com. The company can be contacted by phone at (800) 476-3368.

Although we do not strongly encourage self-management of structural pests, we think that anything that can be done to supplement regular inspection by a professional is a good thing.

There are other insect populations on the rise that also present a serious public health threat - especially with more people heading outdoors for picnics, barbecues and camp-outs.

The people at Bayer Environmental Science provided the following statistics:

More than 75 percent of Lyme disease cases are contracted in residential properties - thats your backyard!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded nearly 20,000 human cases of Lyme disease in 2000, with 23,763 human cases reported in 2002 - an increase of 15 percent in two years. Moreover, health officials believe that only one in 10 cases is actually reported.

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