In 1991 Tampa first discovered Formosan subterranean termites near Tampa International Airport. By 1999 they were discovered in nearby Temple Terrace as well. Not long after, a termite inspection discovered them in a warehouse in South Tampa. In 2003, a termite inspection discovered them on Harbor Island, near downtown Tampa.
There is little doubt that new Formosan colonies are being formed in Tampa and around Florida. They are multiplying more quickly than they can be detected. Therefore property owners must become more vigilant. Frequent inspections and immediate treatment by trained professionals must be implemented. These are the only protection against the slow silent Formosan invasion.
It isn't just Tampa, or even Florida's central west coast at risk, its coastal communities throughout Florida and across the Gulf Coast. The Formosan termite has now been found in at least 14 other Florida counties. The fact is that once Formosan termites become established, they've never been eradicated from an area.
In New Orleans, where more than 90% of the buildings in the French Quarter are infested, Formosan termites are responsible for $300 million annually for control and repair costs. In the state of Hawaii, they are considered the single most economically important insect pest.
Formosan subterranean termites have quite an appetite for wood. According to experts, an average native subterranean termite colony can eat about 7 pounds of wood per year. A Formosan colony can consume more than 1,000 pounds of wood. The difference in the size of the colonies is the reason. Native subterranean termite colonies typically number under 1 million termites. Formosan termite colonies can easily exceed 10 million termites.
Formosan termites attack a much wider array of food sources, such as furniture, books and even living trees. They can be extremely persistent in finding a way into buildings. Unlike other types of termites, they can chew through thin lead, copper sheeting, PVC, foam insulation boards, plaster, asphalt, rubber, and some plastics to find wood. They can find even the smallest (1/16") cracks through concrete.
Can these termites be controlled, or better yet, prevented? While fumigation, or tenting, can be effective against drywood termites, Formosan colonies aren't seriously affected by fumigation because they have both underground and above ground nests. They will lose some workers, after tenting, the termites return. For this reason fumigation should never be the primary method of treatment for Formosan subterranean termites.
Bait stations have been use to detect and prevent termites since the mid 1990's. These devices work by attracting termites and then using very small amounts of slow-acting poison to kill the colony over many months. These bait stations are very effective when used by a trained termite professional. Over many years they've become the primary tool used to protect and treat properties from Formosan termites.
The entire Gulf Coast, including the coast of Florida is either currently under attack from, or a potential target of Formosan subterranean termites. The only defense consists of annual termite inspections by professionals and underground bait stations monitored by professionals. - 15266
There is little doubt that new Formosan colonies are being formed in Tampa and around Florida. They are multiplying more quickly than they can be detected. Therefore property owners must become more vigilant. Frequent inspections and immediate treatment by trained professionals must be implemented. These are the only protection against the slow silent Formosan invasion.
It isn't just Tampa, or even Florida's central west coast at risk, its coastal communities throughout Florida and across the Gulf Coast. The Formosan termite has now been found in at least 14 other Florida counties. The fact is that once Formosan termites become established, they've never been eradicated from an area.
In New Orleans, where more than 90% of the buildings in the French Quarter are infested, Formosan termites are responsible for $300 million annually for control and repair costs. In the state of Hawaii, they are considered the single most economically important insect pest.
Formosan subterranean termites have quite an appetite for wood. According to experts, an average native subterranean termite colony can eat about 7 pounds of wood per year. A Formosan colony can consume more than 1,000 pounds of wood. The difference in the size of the colonies is the reason. Native subterranean termite colonies typically number under 1 million termites. Formosan termite colonies can easily exceed 10 million termites.
Formosan termites attack a much wider array of food sources, such as furniture, books and even living trees. They can be extremely persistent in finding a way into buildings. Unlike other types of termites, they can chew through thin lead, copper sheeting, PVC, foam insulation boards, plaster, asphalt, rubber, and some plastics to find wood. They can find even the smallest (1/16") cracks through concrete.
Can these termites be controlled, or better yet, prevented? While fumigation, or tenting, can be effective against drywood termites, Formosan colonies aren't seriously affected by fumigation because they have both underground and above ground nests. They will lose some workers, after tenting, the termites return. For this reason fumigation should never be the primary method of treatment for Formosan subterranean termites.
Bait stations have been use to detect and prevent termites since the mid 1990's. These devices work by attracting termites and then using very small amounts of slow-acting poison to kill the colony over many months. These bait stations are very effective when used by a trained termite professional. Over many years they've become the primary tool used to protect and treat properties from Formosan termites.
The entire Gulf Coast, including the coast of Florida is either currently under attack from, or a potential target of Formosan subterranean termites. The only defense consists of annual termite inspections by professionals and underground bait stations monitored by professionals. - 15266
About the Author:
Protect your property from termites. Florida Bug Inspectors offers a complete termite protection plan, starting with a complete termite inspection. Russ Frank, owner of FBI, is a leading termite control professional in Tampa Bay.
