March is an interesting month. We’re told to beware the Ides of March. We have St. Patrick’s Day. In most years, Lent begins or ends in March. And Spring officially begins on March 20, which is why we’re in our second week of Termite Awareness.

Termites are an issue in most places around the world. Unless you live in Antarctica, it’s likely you’ll encounter them. It’s even worse for Floridians. Termites just love our subtropical weather. The chance of dealing with a termite infestation isn’t just a high probability – it’s practically an inevitability.

Last week, we looked at drywood termites – what most people would think of as traditional termites. This week, we need to talk about their far more destructive cousins – swarming, subterranean Formosan termites.

Edge of Destruction

Coptotermes formosanus are, hands down, the most destructive termites you can be forced to deal with. Originally from East Asia, Formosan termites arrived on the shores of America in the 1950s. Thankfully, Florida was spared until the 70’s. Often referred to as a “super termite,” Formosan termites are one of the most aggressive and economically devastating termite species.

Part of the problem comes from their sheer numbers. A Formosan nest can grow to – and even exceed – a million termites. They reproduce faster. They eat a wider variety of wood than other subterranean termites. And they don’t east just wood. In addition to the usual cellulose – cardboard, paper and foam insulation – they can also eat through thin lead and copper sheeting, asphalt plaster, and some plastics. They’ve also been known to attack more than 50 species of living plants.

Formosan termites can destroy buildings but also severely damage trees and other plant life. While their primary home is hidden underground in dark, moist areas, Formosan termite nests can get so large that they burst out above ground, inside, or in your yard. And once established, Formosan subterranean termites have never been completely eradicated from an area.

Identifying Them

There are three variations of Formosan termites in each nest. Soldiers have an orange-brown, oval-shaped head, curved mandibles, and a whitish body. Worker termites are usually white or off-white. Both of these are about 1/8^th of an inch long and are virtually indistinguishable from other termites. Reproductive alates or swarmers are yellowish-brown and 0.5 to 0.6 inch long, with hairy wings. During swarming season (April to July), thousands of alates take to the skies looking for a suitable place to launch a new colony. After a brief flight, they land and shed their wings. Females look for a nesting site with males close behind.

Once she finds a spot and they mate, she will produce 15-30 eggs. Within two to four weeks, the first batch hatches and prepares to care for the next brood. It will take 3-5 years before a new nest is in a position to create alates that then spread to launch other nests, but during all of this time, damage is already being done.

Infestation Signs

Formosan subterranean termites invade structures from the ground, entering through expansion joints, cracks, and utility conduits. Anytime wood is touching soil it invites a Formosan termite infestation. But beware! The University of Florida found 25% of Formosan termite invasions come from above ground nests – even in roofs and eaves.

You’ll want to keep an eye out for damp or moist patches of wood, damage to wood objects in your home, hollow sounding walls, blistered paint, soft spots in the floor or bubbled wallpaper. If windows or doors stick, this might also be a sign. Formosan termites also use mud tubes to shelter, travel, or bring water into the nest.

Alates are attracted to light, so look for dead termites or discarded wings around window sills, doorways, and electric light sources.

The best defense is a good offense. Our Term Assure 365 provides the best, year-round coverage at an affordable price and comes with a $1-million damage warranty. We inspect your home and recommend sealing up any potential entry points, then put monitoring stations to detect termites before they become a big problem.

Term Assure 365 also includes our Go Green Perimeter Plus, so you know you’re protected from all the usual pest suspects, like ants, spiders and roaches. For more details, to upgrade your current service, or schedule your first appointment, please give us a call!