Structural pest management: Characteristics of decay and insect attack in California homes

California's structural pest control industry is one of the most tightly regulated in the United States. One requirement is that a copy of each standard inspection report be filed with the state. In 1986, more than 1.5 million structural pest inspection reports were filed with the California Structural Pest Control Board (SPCB). The reports contain a wealth of information on the frequency with which wood-destroying organisms occur, their most likely areas of occurrence, the current treatments recommended to control and prevent structural pest damage, and the inspection fees and repair costs associated with controlling these pests.