In this photo released by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Cynthia Tucker, left, a UF graduate student majoring in entomology, and Roberto Pereira, a UF research associate, use a thermal imaging camera to measure heat transfer through building materials damaged by termites at UF’s main Gainesville campus — March 11, 2008. All three building materials were damaged by termites, but the pest caused more thermal damage to insulation than to wooden 2×4 or plywood samples. Materials damaged by termites were shown to be less energy efficient, resulting in higher heating and cooling bills.

(Thomas Wright, University of Florida/IFAS)
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