Formosan Termites

What are Formosan Termites?

Formosan Termites are a subterranean species often called “super termites,” although they are not so “super” to have in your home. Formosan termites are similar to both subterranean termites and dry wood termites and can be difficult to distinguish. 

Drive-Bye Exterminators can identify the termite type right away and begin treatment if you suspect you have a termite problem.

Appearance

Identifying which type of termite you are dealing with will help your professional exterminator know which treatment to use. Each type of termite has a specific set of identifying markers. 

There are three distinct groups of the Formosan termite. They are the swarmers, the soldiers, and the workers, and Drive-Bye Exterminators will get rid of them all.

Swarmers are less than half an inch in length, and their bodies are a yellowish-brown. Their wings are translucent and covered with tiny hairs. They are often misidentified as flying ants, but flying ants have differing sized wings, and termite wings are the same size. These are the reproducing termites of the colony.

Soldiers have a unique head shape. The rounded head tapers down toward the front, and their mandibles have no teeth. They have an orangish-brown head and a yellowish-white body. There are more soldiers than any other of the termites in a colony of Formosans. When attacked, soldiers secrete a white glue-like fluid.

Workers are a creamy yellow color with no brown and are the smallest of the colony. Workers are not customarily used to identify termite species, as they look very much like other termites. What’s important here is they are the colony’s chewers, eating through the wood and forming the mud tubes.

Behavior

Formosan termites are the most aggressive termite, chewing through wood, flooring, and even wallpaper, undetected. And because of their large numbers per colony, they can do an extensive amount of damage.

Formosan termites invade a house from the ground up. Any wood touching the ground is an open door for the termites. Additionally, they can enter the home through cracks and expansion joints.

An exterminator will look for Formosan termites around the soil, similar to Subterranean termites. Unlike Subterranean termites, however, Formosan termites do not need to stay inside the ground. Like Dry Wood termites, the Formosan variety will tunnel through wood without the need to return to the soil, allowing them to tunnel through floors and walls with ease. As they multiply, more and more termites will begin to invade wood structures. Professional pest control companies can stop this damage before it causes substantial expense.

Make an appointment with Florida’s professional pest control company to save your home from the damages of termites. Call Drive-Bye Exterminators today to learn more.

How do I know if I have a termite problem?

The first sign a homeowner will usually see is the discarded wings near a windowsill. You see, the swarmers are attracted to the light. Anywhere there is moist wood is an excellent place for them to nest and form their mud tubes.

Likewise, damaged wood is one of the first signs. If you see the foraging tubes in the drywall of the interior of your home, you have a termite infestation.

Formosan termites utilize similar nesting methods as Subterranean termites, though they can be as harmful as Dry Wood termites because they are harder to detect. Drive-Bye Exterminators provides Formosan termite control to keep your home safe from damages.

Preventing Formosan Termites

The best prevention for termites is an annual inspection by a professional team like Drive-Bye Exterminators. This way, the tech will find the termites before they infest the home. In addition, there are a few things the homeowner can do to help reduce the risk of getting termites at all.

1. Eliminate sources of moisture around the home and in crawl spaces.
2. Reduce the humidity levels in attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
3. Utilize gutters to keep water away from the foundation of the home.
4. Keep brush and firewood off and away from the house.

Getting Rid of Formosan Termites

With Drive-Bye, you get the most reliable termite control of any pest control in the area. Our expert technicians have an eye for just what you don’t want to see in your home. And, with our service plans, we can catch any invaders before they attempt a takeover. 

So, schedule your personalized consultation with Drive-By Exterminators today to get signed up with a service plan and get started protecting your home.