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Brief Summary

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The Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is often nicknamed the super-termite because of its destructive habits and the enormous size of the colonies. A single colony may contain several million individuals (whereas other subterranean termite species typically number several hundred thousand individuals) in extensive underground foraging galleries and tunnels. The queen, which lives about 15 years, is responsible for producing all the eggs for the colony, up to 2000 eggs a day. Colonies pose serious threats to any nearby structures (boats, high-rise condominiums, even live trees and crops). While they rapidly eat wood and lumber which is composed mostly of cellulose, they also attack asphalt and plastic and even some soft metals to some degree. Once established, Formosan subterranean termites are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate from an area. Like other termite species, C. formosanus are social insects and their colonies consist of three castes: workers (food gatherers), reproductives, and soldiers. When a colony grows large and splits, or if the colonies queen dies, up to 70,000 winged reproductives (alates) swarm from the nest and fly to mate and form a new colony. Alates are attracted to lights, and at night these insects can be seen as an impressive cloud, with the individuals being rapidly preyed on by lizards, birds, toads, ants and other predators.

Although C. formosanus was first described in Formosa, Taiwan in the early 1900s, this species is probably endemic to southern China. The Formosan subterranean termite invaded the continental United States in the 1960s, having been transported to South Africa about a decade earlier. Coptotermes formosanus is limited to warm and humid climates, and is restricted to ten of the most southern continental states in the US and to Hawaii, where it is a economically important insect pest. Control and repair of damage done by C. formosanus in New Orleans, which has been heavily infested, is estimated at an annual total of $300 million. In Hawaii, homes built over an established colony can be destroyed in just two years unless the home is protected. Traditional control methods usually involve infusing chemical termicides into the ground to create a barrier between the colony and the endangered structure. Depending on the type, termicides either repel the termites or kill them on contact. Another approach is to use baited traps around the surface of a structure. Termites then take the bait, which is laced with a pesticide that the termite transports back to other members of the colony.

(Su and Scheffrahn, 2010; Wikipedia 2011; Yates 1992)

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Formosan subterranean termite

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The Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is a species of termite local to southern China and introduced to Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa, where it gets its name), Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka,[1] Hawaii, and the continental United States.

The Formosan termite is often nicknamed the super-termite because of its destructive habits due to the large size of its colonies and its ability to consume wood at a rapid rate. Populations of these termites have become large enough to appear on New Orleans' weather radars.[2]

A mature Formosan colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood a day (about 400 g) and can severely damage a structure in as little as three months.

Formosan termites infest a wide variety of structures (including boats and high-rise condominiums) and can damage trees. In the United States, along with another species, Coptotermes gestroi, introduced from Southeast Asia, they are responsible for tremendous damage to property resulting in large treatment and repair costs.

Biology

Coptotermes formosanus is a social insect.[3][4][5][6]

Nutrition

Crops include sugarcane.[7][8][9][10]

Reproduction and lifecycle stages

Fertile queen

[11]

As an introduced species

History

[12] Formosan termites are rarely found north of 35°N. They have been reported in 11 states, including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Their distribution is restricted to southern areas of the United States because their eggs don't hatch below about 20 °C (68 °F). More information can also be found at University of Florida Entomology.

Spread of Formosan infestation

Formosan termites, since their probable landing at the Port of New Orleans around the middle of the 20th century, have become a most serious concern to pest control regulators and researchers. In the 1970's, the United States Department of Agriculture began to track the spread of Formosan infestations. Maps of counties infested by Formosans were published by the USDA in 1975, 1990, and 2001. Universities across Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida have published updates since then.

The annual expansion rate of Formosan infestation between 1990 and present varies from 5.3% in Mississippi to 8.1% in Texas.

Economic impact

Historic structures in Hawaii have been threatened, such as Iolani Palace in Honolulu.[13][14]

Acceleration of Formosan infestation is accelerating as Formosans fill gaps and move to the north

It has its greatest impact in North America.[15][16][17] C. formosanus is the most destructive, difficult to control, and economically important species of termite in the southern United States.[18]

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services discusses the average cost of Formosan termite damage as "in the $10,000 range per home.......can be much higher...in some severe cases the home may have to be demolished and rebuilt." Florida Consumer Protection.[19]

Formosan termite barriers

Physical barriers to Formosan termites have been developed. Most of these barriers must be installed during construction, but a few can be installed after construction. The most important application of these post construction barriers is the stone particle barrier, used to protect exposed concrete perimeters.

The International Code Council (ICC) has issued an acceptance standard AC 380 Acceptance Criteria for Termite Physical Barrier Systems which requires five years of controlled field trials in multiple Formosan termite infested locations.[20] These acceptance criteria are rigorous and are drawn from the criteria used by state and federal pest control regulators for termite control methods.

Formosan Termites-Maps of Counties Infected
Formosan Termites-Maps of Counties Infected

References

  1. ^ "An annotated checklist of termites (Isoptera) from Sri Lanka". National Science Foundation. Retrieved 15 February 2017.
  2. ^ "Swarm of termites shows up as cloud on weather radar". UPI. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  3. ^ (Howarth 1985)
  4. ^ (Grace et al. 1996a).
  5. ^ (Tulane 2002, ARS 2002).
  6. ^ Grace et al. (1995)
  7. ^ (ARS 2002).
  8. ^ (Broughton and Grace 1994).
  9. ^ Cabrera et al. (2001)
  10. ^ Morales-Ramos and Rojas (2003)
  11. ^ Su and Scheffrahn (2000)
  12. ^ (Su and Tamashiro 1987).
  13. ^ (Tulane 2002)
  14. ^ (Grace et al. 2002)
  15. ^ Lax and Osbrink (2003)
  16. ^ (Tulane 2002)
  17. ^ Raloff (2003)
  18. ^ Fei and Henderson (2003)
  19. ^ (Yates et al. 2000).
  20. ^ https://icc-es.org/acceptance-criteria/ac380/

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Wikipedia authors and editors
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visit source
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wikipedia EN

Formosan subterranean termite: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

The Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is a species of termite local to southern China and introduced to Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa, where it gets its name), Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and the continental United States.

The Formosan termite is often nicknamed the super-termite because of its destructive habits due to the large size of its colonies and its ability to consume wood at a rapid rate. Populations of these termites have become large enough to appear on New Orleans' weather radars.

A mature Formosan colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood a day (about 400 g) and can severely damage a structure in as little as three months.

Formosan termites infest a wide variety of structures (including boats and high-rise condominiums) and can damage trees. In the United States, along with another species, Coptotermes gestroi, introduced from Southeast Asia, they are responsible for tremendous damage to property resulting in large treatment and repair costs.

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