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Formosan Termites
Dampwood Termite
Eastern Subterranean Termite
Drywood Termite
Formosan Termite
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Desert Subterranean Termite
Powderpost Termite
Western Subterranean Termite
Western Drywood Termite |
  
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COMMON NAME: Formosan Subterranean Termite
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki
CLASSlORDERIFAMILY: lnsecta / Isoptera / Rhinotermitidae
METAMORPHOSIS: Simple
INTRODUCTION: Formosan termites have long been a pest in Hawaii, first collected in 1896 but not correctly identified until 1905. They were first discovered in the continental states in 1956 in Charleston, S.C., then in Houston, Texas, in 1965, and the next year in Galveston. They are known from several areas in southern Louisiana; Meridian (1984) and Biloxi-Gulfport (1985), Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama (1985); south Florida and into North Miami Beach, then found in Orlando (1983), Ft. Walton Beach (1984), and in Pensacola (1985); and were discovered in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1984. In 1992, infestations were verified in Holden Beach, NC, Florence, SC, Tampa, GA, and San Diego, CA. In 1996, infestations were verified in Spindale, NC, which is in western North Carolina.
The formosan termite is the so-called "Super" termite of the popular press. This is primarily because of the large size of the colony and, hence, the termites' ability to consume a large amount of wood in a relatively short period of time and to produce large evening flights of swarmers.
RECOGNITION:
Swarmer. About 1/25(12~13 mm) long including wings. Body is pale yellow to brownish yellow. The fontanelle (frontal gland pore) is present, on a tuberde (very short tube) toward margin front of the head. The front wing has 2 dark, heavily sclerotized (hardened) veins in front portion, other veins unpigmented except for a basal third. The wing is translucent (slightly milky) and is densely covered with hairs (setae). The scale of the front wing is distinctly larger than hind wing scale and it may overlap the basal portion of the hind wing scale.
Soldier. Head is rounded on both sides tapered or narrowed toward front, with fontanelle (frontal gland pore) on a slight tubercle (very short tube) toward the front of the head. The mandibles both lack teeth and the pronotum is flat, and narrower than the head.
DAMAGE: This is essentially the same as that caused by the eastern subterranean termite, wood appearing layered and soil present, except that it happens at a more rapid rate and the large carton constructions cause walls to bulge.
Although colonies of several million termites are known, a mature colony consisting of about 350,000 workers may/can eat about 31 grams or 1+ ounce per day. At this rate, such a colony could completely consume 14 linear feet (4.3 m) of a pine 2"x4" board in 1 year; or it would take them 25 days to completely consume 1 foot (0.3 m). However, some mature colonies may be as much as 2-28 times this large and/or there may be more than 1 colony associated with the structure.
Calculations from the latest feeding studies indicate that a colony of 3 million termites can consume about 13 oz (360 gm)/day or 167 linear feet (5.9 m) of a pine 2"x4" in 1 year (=about 2 days to eat 1 ft/0.3 m); hence, the above 350,000 member colony would thus consume about 19.5 linear feet (5.9 m) instead of 14 (4.3 m).
It must be realized that an established, mature colony of Formosan termites may cause severe damage to a structure in as short a time as 3 months. For this reason, it is extremely important that prospective customers be warned concerning the need for immediate control. Be sure of the identification first!
BIOLOGY: Formosan termites are subterranean termites, they typically live in the ground, build mud tubes, have a 3-caste system, etc. However, they are described as being a more vigorous and aggressive species than our native subterranean species. A mature queen can lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day.
Swarming usually follows a warm rainy day in late spring/summer and typically occurs in the evening hours, starting at sundown and ending before midnight. The swarmers are attracted to lights.
Typical colony size and foraging habits have been investigated using the dye-and-trap method. Of 8 colonies in Florida, the number of termites per colony ranged from 1.4- 6.86 million, with foraging areas of about 1,743 sq ft (162 sq m) to 38,424 sq ft/0.9 acre (3,571 sq m/0.4 hectare) respectively. Forages from the smaller colony traveled 43 m (141 ft) and those of the largest colony traveled 115 m (377 ft) maximally for food.
HABITS: These are essentially the same as for the eastern subterranean termite. Formosans do have the habit of establishing secondary nests above ground if a constant moisture supply is available. Such a nest is made of a material called carton. It consists of soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces. Such large nests typically cause walls to bulge. True aerial nests (never ground contact) are more often encountered than for the eastern subterranean termites, but are not common.
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