Formosan Subterranean Termite

Scientific name: Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki)

Common names: Formosan subterranean termite, ground termites

A recent E-mail circulating warns that buying mulch from home improvement stores may spread the Formosan subterranean termite. This is unlikely as the Louisiana Department of Agriculture imposed a quarantine on several parishes in October 2005 specifically to prevent the accidental movement of Formosan subterranean termites to other areas. See Snopes.com - Formosan Termites for more information.

Native To: China

Date of U.S. Introduction: 1960s

Images: Invasive.org and Google

Video: Massive Termite Attack! (or click Play button below)

Means of Introduction: Arrived accidentally on ships from the Pacific

Impact: Competes with native species; causes structural damage to buildings

Current U.S. Distribution: Southeast U.S. (Map)

Management Plans: Animals

Selected Internet Resources:

• Federal Government
• State Government
• University/Academic
• International
• Organizations

National Formosan Subterranean Termite Program: Operation Full Stop
USDA. Agricultural Research Service.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; E-mail warns that buying mulch from home improvement stores may spread the Formosan subterranean termite. Distribution; Controls

Coptotermes formosanus Article Citation Search - AGRICOLA Database
USDA. National Agricultural Library.
Research; Special Note: NAL Catalog Search (resources)

Formosan Subterranean Termite Research - Project Description/Mission and Formosan Subterranean Termite Research Unit
USDA. ARS. Southern Regional Research Center.
Controls; Research

Formosan Termite Initiative
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Photographs; Impacts; Special Notes: Presentation and Video

National Termite Survey
State of Louisiana. New Orleans Mosquito and Termite Control Board.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Distribution; Controls (Monitoring); Special Notes: Current Distribution of the Formosa Subterranean Termite and Other Termite Species in Louisiana (PDF | 103 KB) and U.S. Distribution

Formosan Subterranean Termites, ANR-1035 (Jul 2001)
Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat; Controls

The Formosan Subterranean Termite in Georgia
University of Georgia - Griffin. Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Urban Pest Management Program.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Distribution; Controls

The Formosan Subterranean Termite
University of Georgia. BugwoodWiki.
Identification/Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Special Note: Includes bibliography

Formosan Subterranean Termite
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Identification/ Description; Illustrations; Introduction History; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls

Formosan Subterranean Termite - Featured Creatures
University of Florida. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Distribution; Controls; Special Note: References

Termite Project
University of Hawai'i - Manoa. Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Introduction History; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion; Controls; Research; Special Note: Cooperative Extension Publications

Formosan Subterranean Termites
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Research and Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Illustrations; Impacts; Habitat; Controls; Research

Termites - Louisiana House
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. Research and Extension.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Habitat; Controls

Formosan Termites
Mississippi State University. Coastal Research and Extension Center. Extension Station.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution; Controls

Formosan Subterranean Termite
Texas A&M University. Center for Urban and Structural Entomology.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Introduction History; Habitat

Coptotermes formosanus (insect) - ISSG Global Invasive Species Database
World Conservation Union. Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Taxonomy; Identification/Description; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Controls

Coptotermes formosanus
Discover Life.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Life Cycle; Habitat; Distribution; Dispersion

Formosan subterranean termite
Invasive.org.
Taxonomy; Photographs

Formosan Subterranean Termites
Termite.com.
Identification/Description; Photographs; Impacts; Distribution