Formosan Subterranean Termite

Profile

Scientific name

Coptotermes formosanus

Identification

Swarmers are yellowish-brown with dense fine hairs on the wings, and they fly at night rather than during the day. Soldiers have a teardrop-shaped head that exudes a white defensive fluid.

Typical size

Swarmers roughly 1/2 inch including wings.

Behavior

Very large colonies with aggressive foraging; can nest above grade in wall voids using carton material made of chewed wood and soil.

Habitat

Structural framing, wall voids, trees, utility poles, railroad ties and landscape timbers.

Diet

Cellulose materials.

Lifecycle

Massive perennial colonies; night swarms in late spring and early summer.

Why it matters

Formosan colonies can damage structures faster than native species, so suspected activity should be evaluated promptly by a licensed termite company.

DIY considerations

Nothing sold at retail addresses a Formosan colony. Collect a few swarmers in a bag so a licensed inspector can confirm the species.

Professional considerations

Bed Bugs & Beyond does not offer termite or other wood-destroying insect treatment, inspections or reports. This profile is identification information only. For treatment or a real estate inspection report, contact a company licensed for wood-destroying organism work in Alabama.

Signs of activity

• Heavy night swarms around porch and street lights
• Piles of wings beneath exterior lights and on window ledges
• Carton material — a hard mud-like mass — inside a wall void
• Moisture staining and soft wood far above ground level

Prevention

• Keep landscape timbers, mulch and stored wood away from the structure
• Correct roof, gutter and plumbing leaks that keep framing damp
• Remove dead trees, stumps and buried wood on the property
• Reduce bright unshielded exterior lighting during swarm season

Sources

• Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University) — household pests
• USDA Forest Service — Subterranean termites and wood protection