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Pest Identification
These "supertermites" were introduced to the coastal regions of the United States after WWII.
Formosan termites are 1/2-inch long; the winged reproductives are pale yellow to brownish yellow, and the hairy wings have two dark veins at the leading edge.
The soldiers have an oval head with massive toothless mandibles which cross at the tips.
Formosan termites have been found in the Gulf Coast states, along the eastern seaboard north to North Carolina, as well as in Tennessee, California, and Hawaii.
Formosan termites are subterranean termites which usually live in the ground, build mud tubes, and construct carton nests which consist of soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces.
The carton nests of Formosan termites retain moisture and enable colonies and satellite colonies to establish aerial nests and survive without maintaining contact with the soil. Swarms appear on warm and rainy days, around dusk, and continue into the evening. Formosan swarmers are often attracted to light.
|
Native Subterranean Termite |
Formosan Termite |
AVERAGE |
100,000 up to 1 million. |
Ten million or more. The largest known single Formosan termite colony was found in a public library building in Algiers, Louisiana. The colony exceeded 70 million termites within a nest weighing approximately 600 pounds. |
AGRESSIVENESS |
Moderately aggressive; a typical colony will consume about 7 pounds of wood per year. Termite shields (properly installed) are reasonably effective in helping to control. Percentage of soldiers in a typical colony is less than 2%, making them somewhat vulnerable to outside predators like ants. |
Extremely aggressive; a typical colony will consume over 1,000 pounds of wood per year. Termite shields are less effective. Formosan subterranean termites will go through thin sheets of metal, mortar, PVC pipe, electric power lines and telecommunications lines to get to wood or cellulosic material. This termite will eat wood, paper, books, furniture — anything cellulosic. A typical colony has 10% to 20% soldiers and therefore is much less vulnerable to outside natural predators. |
ADAPTABILITY |
Moderately adaptable; more limited range; species is ground-dependent for water, making it easier to detect via mud tubes. If present in the structure, they are usually concentrated at the first-floor level. Prefers wet dead wood. Will not ordinarily infest living trees. |
Extremely adaptable; not ground-dependent for moisture; can live off water condensation even at attic level. Builds carton nests in walls and roofs; carton nest serves as a satellite home, trap-ping and conserving water. Very difficult to detect in closed structures until severe damage has been done. Also attacks and causes severe damage in a broad species range of living trees; they prefer hardwoods like oak, gum and maple, but will attack softwoods including Southern Pine. Much more adaptable to varying soil types, climates, and settings — urban to the wild. |
| MOBILITY | Moderate to low; ground dependent; and relatively weak flyers in the alate (flying stage) form. | Very mobile; move around extensively when disturbed; not ground dependent. Ablates are proportionately stronger flyers. |