Urban Pest Management Program

The Formosan Subterranean Termite in Georgia

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is native to China, was accidentally introduced into the southern U.S., and has since been found in nine southern states. From 1993 through 2006, 30 infestation sites (see map) have been found in Georgia (see graph below). Alarmingly, more than half of the sites have been discovered since 2004---the direct result of the University of Georgia’s educational program geared towards informing the pest control industry of this invasive pest’s introduction. Additional, undiscovered sites almost certainly exist throughout the state.

The Formosan termite is most commonly spread by movement of termite-infested railroad crossties. As railroad companies replace crossties, some of the used ones are sold and re-used to build retaining walls and other landscape features. Some of the used crossties are infested with Formosan termites. The termites survive transport and become established in previously un-infested areas when the crossties are installed. Genetic evidence of termites collected from four of the Atlanta sites indicates that they most likely originated in New Orleans, LA. Formosan termites remain extremely rare in Georgia, and the presence of railroad crossties in the landscape in no way implies the presence of the termite on one’s property.

The Formosan termite is the most destructive termite pest in the U.S., and arguably the world. It can cause extensive structural damage. For example, one Georgia homeowner sustained, by his own estimate, $200,000 in Formosan termite damage; we can cite several other damage estimates of homes in Georgia in the $10,000-$70,000 range. Prior to hurricane Katrina, the Formosan termite was annually responsible for an estimated $100 million in damage to homes and businesses in the New Orleans area.

The Georgia Formosan Subterranean Termite Eradication Initiative

Annually, from 2001-2006 the Georgia State Legislature provided funds to the University of Georgia’s Entomology Department for the establishment of a Formosan Subterranean Termite Eradication Initiative. Funding for the Initiative was allocated only after a grassroots lobbying and educational effort by members of Georgia’s structural pest control industry, the Georgia Pest Control Association, and others.

The Initiative has two aims: (a) to find and eradicate existing Formosan termite infestations from Georgia, and (b) to keep termite-infested crossties out of Georgia. Achieving these goals requires cooperation among state and local officials, property owners, pest management professionals, university researchers and extension personnel, and termite control product manufacturers.

The cornerstone of the Initiative is a commitment to inspect and monitor infested sites over the long-term. As standard operation, each site is visited regularly. The goal is to find live Formosan termites via intensive inspection, and when termites are found to prescribe a course of remedial action designed to protect nearby structures from infestation and then to eliminate the termites from the surrounding landscape. When appropriate, chemically-based control strategies include the targeted use of non-repellent liquid termiticides and growth-regulating termite baits. After treatment is administered, regularly-scheduled follow-up inspections are conducted to determine the effectiveness of the treatment.

The Initiative’s Progress

The Initiative has been very successful. We have managed to protect multiple homes and businesses from this termite pest while ensuring eradication at multiple point source introductions. As of Fall 2006, 11 of 30 sites are termite-active---10 of these 11 sites have been discovered since 2004. Based on our track record, though, we are confident that we will be successful at eliminating termites from these sites. Termites have not been detected at 19 of the 30 sites for a number of years. We consider 14 of these 19 sites to be termite-free.

The program has prompted a number of private corporations and companies to make generous donations of their time, labor, and termite control product to the project; BASF Corporation and Dow AgroSciences deserve special thanks for their product donations. The coming together of all parties, public and private, has been a true synergism. Lastly, discussions with the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission and the Railway Crosstie Association have been helpful. Based on information provided to them by us, the Association is developing internal policies for handling crossties that are potentially infested with Formosan termites.

Georgia’s Future

It is likely that Georgia’s experience with the Formosan subterranean termite will continue to worsen. Like no other southern state, Georgia is poised to continue its import of this invasive pest. Georgia’s growth rate combined with the necessity to retain soil in the hill-laden foothills of north Georgia (the fastest growing part of the state) have resulted in a “perfect storm” for the continued importation of this termite pest.

For instance, during the 1990s Georgia was the fastest growing state east of Colorado and the sixth fastest growing state in the U.S. During the decade, Georgia’s population grew by 1.7 million (26.4% increase). Half of Georgia’s residents currently live in Atlanta (the south’s largest city), and by 2010 the area is projected to have grown by 687,000. More recent statistics suggest that Georgia’s growth rate has not stopped. According to the U.S. Census, in April 2005, 60 of the 100 fastest-growing counties in the U.S. were in the South---including 12 in Georgia (tied with Texas for second, and behind only Florida with 14). A December 2006 article in U.S.A. Today indicated that from2005 to 2006 Georgia was the fourth-fastest growing state in the U.S. During that one year period, 231,388 people moved into the state, bringing Georgia’s population to 9,363,941. From 2000 to 2006, Georgia’s population has grown by about 1.2 million; during the same period, only Arizona and Nevada grew faster.

Termite Control Technicians and Homeowners Should Learn to Recognize the Formosan Subterranean Termite

It is important that termite control professionals and homeowners be able to differentiate between Formosan subterranean termites and Georgia’s more common native subterranean termites. The primary differences in the two types of termites are in the size, color, and behavior of the swarmers and soldiers. Click on image to the left to view PDF file.

 

Swarmers. Formosan termite swarmers are larger than native subterranean termite swarmers, measuring about one-half to five-eighths of an inch from tip of head to tip of wings, and the body is caramel-colored (native termite swarmers are black). Formosan termite wings are hairy, while native termite wings are not hairy. In Georgia, Formosan termites swarm at night in May and June and are attracted to lights, whereas native subterranean termites typically swarm during the day and are not attracted to lights.

Soldiers. Formosan termite soldiers exude a white, glue-like secretion from the top of their head when disturbed. Most notably, however, Formosan termite soldiers make up as much as 15-25% of the termites in a colony compared with just 1-3% in a native subterranean termite colony. Formosan termite soldiers are also aggressive, and will often attempt to bite ones finger tip if challenged.

 

 

Mud Tubes on Crossties. During swarm season (May and June in Georgia) Formosan termites often build extensive mud tubing on crosstie walls. Unfortunately, these mud tubes are washed away with the first rain.

 

Please Report Formosan Termite Discoveries

If you are a termite control professional or a homeowner and you think you have identified a Formosan termite, we'd like to know. And, we'd like to offer our cost-free assistance in ridding the site of this pest. To verify the termites' identification, please collect swarmers and/or soldiers (do not send workers), place them in a small, airtight vial filled with rubbing alcohol, and take the vial to your nearest county extension office, or contact Dr. Daniel R. Suiter on the UGA Griffin Campus (770/233.6114).