Formosan Termite Soldier with Workers
(Coptotermes formosanus) Formosan Termites were first brought into the U.S. on military ships during WWII. Infestations have increased and expanded across the coastal U.S. Formosan termites are subterranean termites. They live in the ground, build mud tubes, have a 3 caste system, etc. However, they are described as being the more aggressive species compared to the other termites we deal with here in Southeast Texas. A mature queen can lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day. Swarming usually follows a warm rainy day in late spring/summer and occurs in the evening hours, starting at sundown and ending before midnight.
Formosan Termites Swarmers
The swarmers are attracted to lights. Formosans do have the capability of establishing secondary nests above ground if a constant moisture supply is available. An above ground nest is made of material called carton. It consists of soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces. Suspended colonies of Formosan termites are more often encountered than the Native Eastern Subterranean termites.
