What You Need to Know about Formosan Termites

Termites can strike fear into the hearts of homeowners, and with good reason. They are one of the most destructive pests a homeowner can encounter in a lifetime. The damage caused by Formosan subterranean termites are nothing to sniff at. They cost damages in the country that are valued at around $1 billion annually, and in Louisiana alone, the estimated damage they do is valued at $500 million per year.

What is the Formosan Termite?

Formosan termites have oval heads that are orange-brown in color, which is different when compared to the native termites’ flat heads. These termites originated from China and were introduced to the continental US through military ships that returned homeland after World War II. Classified as a subterranean termite, they live in the underground soil and love moisture. Compared to their dry wood termite counterparts, their colonies can have millions of workers, making it all the more dangerous once they invade a home. Formosan termites can wreak havoc at a rate of 5 times faster than native termites. Although subterranean termites can be found everywhere, they are more active in the southern states because of the warmer climate.

Behavior, Habits, and Diet

The Formosan termites love cellulose, above all, which is the building block of wood. They love to feed on both living trees and dead structural wood. They will eat anything, even if it only contains a small degree of cellulose, so cloth and paper products are at risk from these termites. They also have the ability to eat through obstacles, which is why foam insulation and sheet metals that are used to protect a structural foundation can be penetrated by Formosan termites, they do so to get to the food source.

The termites’ swarming season starts in April and continues through July. The winged reproductive termites, called alates, will swarm in the air. Once they find a partner to pair up with, they lose their wings, burrow into some wet wood to mate, and hatch their eggs. The female alate will then become the queen of the newly-formed colony.

Signs of Infestations

• Swarming-If you see a group of alates swarming during spring and summer evenings, this could be an indication that a nest or a colony is nearby.
• Mud tubes-Their presence on the walls of your home is a clear indication of infestation. These termites don’t like to be exposed, so they build mud tubes when traveling from their nest to food sources.
• Carton nests-Nests are usually underground so that termites have access to moisture. Formosan termites create carton nests made from saliva, excrement, and wood so they can get the moisture they need even if they are situated above ground. This way there is no need for them to go back to the ground. As a result, they can do more structural damage to a building within a shorter amount of time.
• Wood damage-Formosan termites will eat along (instead of across) the wood grain. The wood grain left behind after feeding is usually packed with mud.
• Soft wood-Tap on the wooden parts of your home and feel for any wood that is soft or hollow to the touch. Bulges and depressions in wood can be a sign. Chipped paint and moist patches in wallpaper may also indicate a full-blown termite activity underneath.

How Much Damage Do They Do?

The damage that a Formosan colony can cause is massive. Because there are millions of members in a colony, they can cover one acre of land or eat through 13 ounces of wood in just 24 hours. At this dizzyingly fast rate, it is entirely possible that a colony can destroy a wooden structure within three to four months.

Prevention of Formosan Termites 

In order to prevent a termite infestation, you need to cut off the termites’ access to food and water sources. Prevent water accumulation in your home’s foundation by making sure your roof gutters and downspouts are functioning properly. You can also improve the ventilation in your attics and crawl spaces. Furthermore, ensure that any wooden part of the home is never in contact with the soil.

If termites are already inside your house, you have two ways to go about this:

• Treatment options-If you are going to treat the termites on your own, you can buy termiticides and bait kits to get rid of the Formosan termites.
• Contact a professional-Termite treatment is best left to the professionals, who will properly use and implement chemical treatments. Make sure the pest control company you choose to hire has a lot of experience and expertise when it comes to dealing with Formosan termites, such as the experts at Fischer Environmental who have dealt with many Formosan termite infestations.

The home is often the biggest investment in a lifetime. Protect it to the best of your ability by keeping it termite-free.