Formosan termites, aggressive invaders that chew through concrete, electrical cables and houses, may be Hurricane Katrina's final threat.
Termite experts are concerned that the demand for landfill space — an estimated 50 million cubic yards in New Orleans alone — will lead to disposal of infested debris in landfills in termite-free areas.
Although Louisiana has a quarantine to contain Formosan termites, the state environmental agency recently called all its landfills to check on their future capacity, even sites in termite-free parishes. Several managers from those landfills said they planned to accept debris from New Orleans.
Source: New York Times