A New Breed of Termites!

We’ve had several signs that this will be… an interesting summer. The Hurricane season predictions alone for the Gulf Coast of Florida have some folks worried. But earlier this year, scientists announced they’d uncovered another threat to our homes and pocketbooks.

As you might expect with our nice subtropical weather, we already host several kinds of termites. Drywood termites swarm, live and feed in dry wood and do not come into contact with soil. Because of how they move and devour wood, they can survive hidden for a while inside your home. 

The more obvious threat is from subterranean termites. This collection of invasive species lives under the soil and is quite industrious. They enter buildings through very small cracks in the slab and foundation of your home. Subterranean termites cause more than 80% of the $5 Billion in annual termite damage, more than floods and fires combined. Most subterranean termites in Florida are either Asian or Formosan termites, both invasive species.

Hybrid Hijinks

In May, researchers at the University of Florida publicly confirmed what they’ve suspected for several years – there is a new hybrid version of subterranean termites. These hybrid subterranean termites are not super-termites, but contain the genes of the two most destructive termites in the Sunshine State. 

Associate Professor Thomas Chouvenc from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences says he suspected something new was happening nearly 10 years ago. A study conducted between 2013 and 2015 found Asian and Formosan subterranean termites were sending out alates (winged termites who seek a mate to form a new colony) at the same time and some were cross breeding. 

It was later confirmed under lab conditions that the two invasive termite breeds could mate and form viable hybrid colonies. Not only are there more opportunities to create more colonies, but entomologists say spotting a hybrid colony also means it's likely there are established colonies of the original termites in an area as well. That’s three highly destructive termite colonies all clustered in one area. 

And while the interactive termite spotting map shows sightings primarily of Formosan subterranean termites, there are enough Asian termites pinpointed to raise concerns across the Gulf Coast. And the future could be worse - these Coptotermes hybrids could slowly maintain the most aggressive genetic pieces of the parent species, while losing their shortcomings.

Stop the Spread

So what do you look for to find these hybrid termites? Unfortunately, researchers say because they’re in the early days, on an evolutionary scale, of the hybridization process, there are no clear signs to point to. Your best bet is just to be on the lookout for subterranean termites and if some seem odd, submit them to UF for analysis, usually through your pest control provider. 

An interesting footnote to the Gainesville study is that it highlights boats. South Florida is the self-proclaimed ‘yachting capital of the world,’ with more than 1-million boats across the two coasts, moored in canals, marinas, rivers and lakes. These locations represent primary gateways for invasive species to enter and disperse from. In other words, not only are we accidentally bringing subterranean termites to our shores, we may be the main source of their spread to other states and countries. Something to think about. 

Closer to home, keep an eye out for mud tubes, blistering paint and swarmers or visible termite tubes near windowsills or door frames. If you detect hollow wood or hear things moving in your walls, those are all signs you need to call a professional. Termites are not something you can handle on your own. 

But you’re in the right place. Good News Pest Solutions has been dealing with termites for more than three decades. Our world class Term Assure 365 covers your home for termites and just about every other creepy crawly. And it comes with a $1-million damage warranty. That’s the preventative measure you can take now, but if you’ve already got termites, we can help mitigate the damage too. For more details, please give us a call!