GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Termites can be a big problem in Florida, wreaking havoc for homeowners unlucky enough to get them in their homes.
But recent research has revealed that two invasive species of termites in Florida have managed to produce a hybrid, raising concerns about the destructive potential this new breed brings to the table.
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That’s according to Thomas Chouvenc, an associate professor of urban entomology with the University of Florida’s IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center.
WHAT ARE THESE INVASIVE TERMITES?
Chouvenc told News 6 that the invasive species — Formosan and Asian termites — were found to have begun engaging in courtship rituals roughly 10 years ago.
“We collected both species at the same time at the same place, which was kind of a first for us because they’re not supposed to be swarming much at the same time,” he explained. “One is supposed to swarm in March, the other in May.”
Both of these subterranean termite species hail from parts of Asia, but Chouvenc said they haven’t had many opportunities to co-mingle for millions of years.
That was, of course, until they were brought to Florida.
According to the UF/IFAS, Chouvenc and other researchers have determined that humans may be helping these termites “conquer the world” by unwittingly ferrying them around via private boats.
“Now, South Florida is one of the few places in the world where these species have established independently,” Chouvenc said. “They’re requested to be two of the most destructive termite species in the world.”
WHY ARE THEY SUCH A PROBLEM?
The Formosan species can form colonies with millions of individual termites, potentially causing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to homes.
State officials also report that Formosan termites will forage aggressively, making them much more destructive than native subterranean termite species.
But while these invasive Formosan termites can be found in a wide range of states — including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona and California — that’s not the case for the Asian termites.
Similarly to Formosans, they’ve been responsible for home damage and the deaths of plenty of healthy trees in the region.
“I like to call (Asian termites) the tropical cousin of a Formosan termite because they are adapted to truly warm temperatures, cannot survive cold temperatures,” Chouvenc stated. “So it’s been restricted to South Florida.”
According to Chouvenc, Asian termites have spread north as far as places like Tampa, Orlando and Melbourne.
“I always say that 99.9% of all infestations in houses will be either Asian termites or Formosan termites,” he added.
But thanks to the Asian variety interbreeding with Formosan termites, this problem could spread much farther.
HOW DO THESE HYBRIDS FACTOR INTO THINGS?
Last year, Chouvenc and other researchers finally found a hybrid colony infesting a tree in Fort Lauderdale, leading to the revelation that this new hybrid species has established itself in South Florida.
However, Chouvenc said that may not be the case forever, as further crossbreeding may create hybrids that are better adapted to different temperatures, potentially increasing their range across Florida and even into neighboring states.
That being said, it may not be a problem many people today will have to worry about.
“In the very long term — this is beyond our lifetime, I hope — these two species will become ubiquitous in Florida because of their own special ability to spread," he said.
In the meantime, Chouvenc explained, researchers are still looking into measures to mitigate the spread of termites and deal with infestations.
For more information on how to prevent a termite infestation in your home, click here.