Formosan termites are a subterranean termite species that has three castes: alates (or reproductive), soldiers, and workers. They are the most voracious, aggressive, and clever of the over 2,000 documented termite species, eating into wood, floors, and even wallpaper unnoticed.
The Formosan subterranean termite breeds in vast colonies, causing considerable structural damage to lumber and timber components in homes and furniture. The termite has the potential to wreak havoc on Australia’s forests and native bush, as well as have a significant influence on the timber-based industry.
Your only hope of fighting them off is hiring professionals by searching for a “termites specialist near me”. Termites are hard to control with DIY measures, especially if it’s Formosan termites.
The Appearance of the Formosan Subterranean Termite
The Formosan termite dwells in a colony with separate groupings known as ‘castes.’ These classes differ in appearance, and each has a distinct role to play in the colony. A worker termite is a light yellow. It constructs nests out of a substance that resembles paper but is actually formed of dirt, wood, and other plant material combined with its saliva and faeces.
A termite soldier is around 12 to 15 mm long, light yellow in colour, and has prominent black ‘teeth.’ When it is agitated, it emits milky goo from its head. The heads of Formosan termite soldiers are rounded on the sides and tapering toward the front, while the heads of native subterranean termites are rectangular. Their mandibles are toothless.
An alate termite has wings, is yellowish-brown in colour, and can be observed swarming in great numbers at dusk between early spring and summertime.
How to Spot Formosan Termites
It is critical to determine which termite group is generating difficulties since each one is physiologically distinct and hence needs various management approaches. Formosan termites are quite similar to other underground termite species, such as Asian subterranean termites and eastern subterranean termites, thus it’s important to get the assistance of a registered pest treatment specialist for appropriate diagnosis.
It’s also worth noting that Formosan termite swarmers are sometimes mistaken for flying ants. The simplest method to distinguish them is to look at their waists, as termites have broad waists while flying ants have thin ones. Termites also have straight antennae as opposed to flying ants, which have curved antennae. Finally, termites have equal-sized wings, but flying ants have larger front wings. If this information matches with the termites found on your property, then you must seek out a “termites treatment company near me” or “pest and termite control near me” online.
What Causes Formosan Subterranean Termites to Exist in Australia?
Formosan termites (Coptotermes formosanus) originated in Taiwan and spread quickly through Asia, South Africa, the Americas, and Australia via cargo and imported products. The Formosan termite is the most dangerous of the hundreds of termite species. This is due to their ability to wreak massive damage to houses and wilderness in a short period of time.
Residents in Australia are being urged to prepare by pest controllers.
The last thing a pest controller wants to inform a homeowner is that termite damage has rendered their home unsalvageable. Our houses in Australia are where we live and create memories. Unfortunately, many individuals are unaware of how severe the harm may be.
Many homeowners are unaware that:
- What to do (and what not to do) if they believe a termite colony exists on their property.
- What precautions may they take to safeguard their home?.
- Preparation, in the form of professional barrier systems and minor house maintenance, may save you tens of thousands of dollars.
- What symptoms to look for that might indicate active termites.
For that reason, homeowners often resort to using easily available termiticides instead of searching for “termites treatment near me”. There are no DIY methods that can guarantee protection from this termite species. So, it will save you more money if you stick to calling the professionals instead of anything else.
Preventing Formosan Termites
The easiest strategy to avoid a Formosan termite infestation is to make your home uninviting by limiting their access to food and water.
To achieve this objective:
- Clear your yard of dead trees as well as scrap wood, paper, and cardboard.
- Quickly repair leaks in drains, outside faucets, water lines, interior fixtures, and appliances.
- Avoid allowing the wood to come into close touch with the bare ground near your home.
- For ground-level buildings, use pressure-treated wood.
- Avoid mulching with wood chips near the home.
- In cement, secure timber posts for fences, decks, porches, and outbuildings.
- Wooden pots, tubs, trellises, and stakes should be avoided.
- Install and maintain rain gutters to keep water away from the house’s walls and roof.
- Plants and landscaping materials should be kept at least a foot away from structures.
- Install downspout extenders to direct runoff away from the foundation by at least a foot.
We have tried to give as much information as we could in this short article and we can only hope it helps you to protect your property from these termites. Your first goal should be preventing them and we are certain you can do that by following the above measures.