The last thing any homeowner wants to discover are termite tunnels leading from a central colony to the framing timber of his beautiful central Florida home. Central Florida has become a hot spot for not only subterranean termites but for Formosan subterranean termites also.
The Formosan termite is the most invasive, aggressive, and destructive timber pest in the United States. Imported worldwide from it’s native habitat in China, through Formosa, Taiwan and Japan, the Formosan termite has become well established in central Florida.
The Formosan termite has been referred to as the super termite because of the magnitude of damage it produces. A typical nest will contain a colony of millions of termites relentless in their pursuit to devour structural timbers, utility poles, trees, ships, barges, and your home. The Formosan can also cause power failure chewing through electrical wires.
Swarmers typically leave the nest in huge numbers in late spring or summer just after a warm rainy day. They love to swarm in high humidity in the evening hours from dusk to midnight. They are attracted to light, about 1/25″ in length, body color is a pale, yellowish-brown, wings are a translucent milky white covered with hundreds of tiny hairs. Swarmers leave the nest to mate with swarmers from other nests to maintain the growth and survival of colonies still yet to come. If you see what you think are swarming subterranean termites you should call us for an inspection. A colony of Formosan termites might be living below your home.
Formosan termite workers will range within 400 feet of the central colony. It may take several years for a colony to mature into the millions. An established colony will have approximately 350,000 workers whose main purpose is:
- Consuming up to 13 ounces of timber every single day!
- Turning 12 inches of your home into piles of dust every 25 days!
- Severely damaging a structure in as little as 3 months.
With the Formosan termite, homeowners need to become more relentless in the protection of their homes. Valrico Pest Control understands both the personal value and investment of your home. You should contact us today for a free inspection and quote. If not now, when?
