Formosan Termites Photos

Termites,  Signs of termites are-  mud tubes on slab or piers.  Small holes sometimes with dirt in sheet rock and wall b​oards.   Rotting wood.  Loose wings or insects similar to flying ants suddenly appearing.

Considered one of the most Aggressive and economically devastating termite species in the country, the Formosan subterranean termites were introduced to the United States in 1956. Discovered in Texas around the Houston Ship Channel in Pasadena, Harris County. Since then, they have been detected in 31 counties in Texas and that number is growing every year.  Native to Central America and the Far East.    Nicknamed the Super-termite, because of its destructive habits. This is because of their larger colony sizes they attack a greater variety of wood at a much faster rate than other subterranean termites. They have also been known to eat through non-cellulose material, such as thin sheets of soft metal (lead or copper), asphalt, plaster, creosote, rubber, and plastic searching for food and moisture.    A single colony may contain several million individuals (compared to several hundred thousand termites of other subterranean species) that will forage up to 300 ft in soil. A Formosan colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood a day and severely damage a structure in as little as three months. Because of its population size and foraging range, these termites pose a serious threat to nearby structures.    ​Once established this species has never been eradicated.