- The termite infestation has been ‘out of control’ in the past six to eight months
- Studio and news desk are crawling with termites that leave droppings that cause allergic reactions and hives
- Staffers were afraid that heavy equipment would fall on them from the ceiling
Termites are eating their way through the studio of a Miami TV station during live news broadcasts, causing staffers to break out into hives and raising fears that the studio will crumble on top of them and injure someone, whistleblowers tell DailyMail.com exclusively.
Disgusting video from the WPLG studio shows insects crawling on the anchor desk during a live show.
‘Right where the anchors are, there is glass. Under that glass the termites move and crawl,” an employee told DailyMail.com.
“They’re in the studio, in the anchor desk, the whole news desk is wood, so wherever there’s wood, it’s there,” explained an employee at the local ABC affiliate, who asked not to be named.
The termites have been around for years, but have gotten “out of control” in the past six to eight months, Local 10 employees say.
Dead termites are scattered throughout the Miami station
The station confirmed that the contamination only occurs in WLPG’s studio
The length of the infestation has crew members concerned that the studio may not be safe, as huge LED screens and studio lights hanging from the ceiling are held up by wooden panels.
“We joke about it all the time: Something’s going to fall on us because they’re chewing the wood,” the worker said. “All we need is for something to come our way, and then we can file a lawsuit.”
The contamination has caused problems for some in the newsroom who are having allergic reactions.
‘We see their feces. It’s called termite frass; it’s actually termite poop,” said another frustrated worker.
‘We see that everywhere, and people react to it if they are allergic to it.’
Local 10 viewers see a shiny, state-of-the-art studio and are unaware of the termite infestation
A close-up of what termites look like, although these are not termites from the WPLG station
Termite frass (feces) is a common spot on the studio floor. The frass has caused an allergic reaction and hives
Employees with allergic reactions broke out with hives.
“It’s shameful and disgusting; our viewers have no idea,” he said.
“That’s what they look like on the outside, so shiny and shiny, but in reality we have a plague.
And on top of that, we do “Dirty Dining,” he explained popular restaurant segment of the station.
“We go to restaurants and stick a microphone in their face when they have a cockroach infestation.”
Several staff members went to the top of the station to voice their concerns, but they were fired.
DailyMail.com reviewed emails in which managers told employees that the studio would be renovated as early as next year and that the termites would be gone by then.
Station management confirmed the infestation and added termites are common in Florida.
“We are aware of the termite problem and are proactively addressing it, which is limited to the set in our studio,” Bert Medina, president and CEO of WPLG, told DailyMail.com.
‘We have treated the set ten times for the termite problem and are now in the process of treating it again. We take the safety and well-being of our employees very seriously.’
But the worker bees don’t believe it; they show other posts advocating treating the studio with sprays or baits.
“They say they clean them and treat them, but they don’t… and if they do, it doesn’t work.”
After DailyMail.com contacted the station for comment, employees said they had seen a pest control truck on the property for the first time since the termites arrived.
“Orkin truck is outside today,” the employee texted. “Just got there.”