Formosan Termites - A Nonnative Pest
Formosan termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, are not native to the United States of America.
They are believed to have been brought to the continental US from the Pacific Theater after WWII on crated military supplies and ships.
Their origin is East Asia.
Presently, it is believed these nonnative pests have invaded some 10 states and cause billions of dollars in damages every year.
These states are: Alabama California Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Texas In fact, in the State of Mississippi, it is estimated that Formosan termites cause over a billion dollars in repairs, prevention and treatment, and control methods annually.
They are especially problematic in southern states which have mild winters where they can escape freezing and can find an accessible food supply.
Part of the reason these pesky insects are such a serious problem flows from the fact that they grow very large colonies that may exceed millions of destructive pests.
That makes them a greater threat than their subterranean cousins or dry wood relatives.
Although they are also subterranean, these imported insects are very different from the other two types of termites which are prominent in the USA.
Because of their large colonies, they are often referred to as "Super Termite," whose colonies can cover an area as large as 300 feet.
They infest a wide variety of structures.
Although Formosan do not eat any more than other termites, their large numbers mean that as a colony they do far more damage since there are so many more of them eating away at a structure.
Strategies in trying to get rid of a colony have revealed that baiting and insecticides are not very effective when used independently.
A better outcome results from using them together.
This dual approach is especially critical given the wide area covered by the colony and the large number of insects which make up the colony.
They are believed to have been brought to the continental US from the Pacific Theater after WWII on crated military supplies and ships.
Their origin is East Asia.
Presently, it is believed these nonnative pests have invaded some 10 states and cause billions of dollars in damages every year.
These states are: Alabama California Florida Georgia Louisiana Mississippi North Carolina South Carolina Tennessee Texas In fact, in the State of Mississippi, it is estimated that Formosan termites cause over a billion dollars in repairs, prevention and treatment, and control methods annually.
They are especially problematic in southern states which have mild winters where they can escape freezing and can find an accessible food supply.
Part of the reason these pesky insects are such a serious problem flows from the fact that they grow very large colonies that may exceed millions of destructive pests.
That makes them a greater threat than their subterranean cousins or dry wood relatives.
Although they are also subterranean, these imported insects are very different from the other two types of termites which are prominent in the USA.
Because of their large colonies, they are often referred to as "Super Termite," whose colonies can cover an area as large as 300 feet.
They infest a wide variety of structures.
Although Formosan do not eat any more than other termites, their large numbers mean that as a colony they do far more damage since there are so many more of them eating away at a structure.
Strategies in trying to get rid of a colony have revealed that baiting and insecticides are not very effective when used independently.
A better outcome results from using them together.
This dual approach is especially critical given the wide area covered by the colony and the large number of insects which make up the colony.
