Greenhouse Termite and Pest Control
TAMPA, Fla. – The discovery of Asian subterranean termites in Temple Terrace, Fla., marks the arrival of a new invasive species in the area, signaling a significant impact on local homeowners, Greenhouse Termite and Pest Control said during a recent Asian subterranean termite encounter.
On May 3, Brenton Cloud, owner of Greenhouse Termite and Pest Control, was training a new technician when they encountered a peculiar termite situation.
During a routine inspection and treatment, a homeowner reported bodies of termites in her bathroom. However, upon inspection, there were no discarded wings around the house, unlike typical subterranean termite swarms.
This unusual circumstance captured Cloud’s attention as wings are usually a clear sign of subterranean termite activity. It is believed that the termites were swarming outside, entering through vents and shedding their wings before infiltrating the bathroom and other neighboring homes.
These termites, larger and lighter in color compared to the common tan dry wood termite, posed a challenge for identification.
“This made them difficult to identify, but I knew it had to be a subterranean termite of some sort,” Cloud said.
He saved some of the dead termite bodies and consulted with Control Solutions. Using a microscope, they identified the pests as Asian Subterranean Termites. This discovery was unexpected, as these termites had been reported in South Tampa.
Asian Subterranean termites present a unique challenge, Cloud said. Unlike other pests, they prefer living in soil and infesting homes from the ground up. These termites have larger colonies than other subterranean termites, and they are voracious eaters, consuming all kinds of wood, including live trees.
Back in April, a team of termite scientists at the University of Florida confirmed heightened invasive subterranean termite activity in Tampa, indicating Asian subterranean termites are spreading across the state.
In the article, the researchers said they are most concerned about the abundance of invasive Asian subterranean termite specimens that Hillsborough County pest control operators have submitted for identification since the start of March.
"This invasive subterranean termite species is known not only to be an important structural pest, but it can also critically harm the urban tree canopy, as colonies typically infest and hollow large healthy trees," said Thomas Chouvenc, an assistant professor of urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, who leads the team’s research effort on Asians subterranean termite.