(Coptotermes formosanus)

SIZE

Formosan termites (flying termites or adult termites) are 1.3 mm in length and have wings.

COLOR

Adult Formosan termites are yellowish-brown.

ACTIVITY HABITS

Formosan termites are voracious and their favorite food is wood. They eat from dead trees, trees in the garden to any structure making of wood in your homes. A termite colony can have more 10 million individuals, Formosan termites only need an underground food and they active 24/7.

Formosan workers take responsibility for finding, chewing and digesting woods. After that, they feed other members in the colony through a process called “mutual nutrition”. They digest wood and regorge resolved nutrition for others.

Termites are blind. They find woods and other sources containing cellulose randomly. They go out of the colony and expand the finding areas until they find a new food sources.

They can distinguish between the light and the shadow to protect themselves. They know that they ca be protected out of predatory insects and keep humidity for their fragile bodies. The light – it means that it is a danger.

Mud tunnels or harborages help Formosan termites maintaining necessary temperature and humidity for their life. These tunnels also prevent them from attacks of ants, spiders and other predatory insects. Wherever they have gone, they also build the tunnels in order to keep safety when moving, even underground where they build their nest and tunnels.

LIFE ENVIRONMENT

When Formosan termites find a bigger wood, they gouged the front surface. These tunnels can be seen on the wood surface but they commonly hide in the walls or architecture materials.

If there is no barrier, they can deeply gouge into the wood without tunneling. The wood will ensure their safety as long as the wood surface is undamaged. They bring mud to everywhere in order to seals holes when they invade in woods. This is a termite infestation sign.

Woods which were invaded in by Formosan termites usually have waves on the surfaces. This is “vein effect” on wood which is caused by termites.

HOW TO PREVENT SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES?

If you see any tunnels causing by termites and wood surfaces have waves or any termite infestation signs, you should have a well-known person inspected your home. Formosan termites destroyed woods faster than any underground insect. They are really voracious and their population is as 5 – 7 times as others.

Formosan termite can damage your home if you do not inspect carefully.