South Florida Termites
Subterranean termites are being studied at the university of florida institute of food and agricultural sciences lab in davie.
South florida termites. Dampwood termites require constant moisture and prefer water saturated wood. As their name would imply dampwood termites typically infest wood that is moist from water leaks or in contact with soil. School is coming to an end summer plans are in gear and subterranean termites are swarming. Formosan subterranean termite nests are much larger than that of a native subterranean termite.
However dampwood termites do not live and forage in the soil like subterranean termites. There is also a fourth group of termites called conehead termites. Twenty one termite species were recorded in florida and among them at least six established were invasive species more than any other states mostly due to the sub tropical climate of florida and high human activity. Termites are different from ants see above ants on the left termites on the right.
Dampwood termites other important termites found in florida are drywood and dampwood termites. Subterranean termites require a moist environment. Subterranean termites swarm in south florida it s that time of year. Soldiers measure approximately 3 8 inch long and have large brownish heads with strong jaws.
Yes these termites commonly found in south florida swarm in the spring. Among the most common in south florida is the drywood termite. Asian subterranean termites can establish their nest in large live trees and colonies can reach several million termites. Asian subterranean termites have been established in south florida for only 20 years but they have been spreading to numerous localities making them increasingly problematic chouvenc said.
Kings and queens measure up to inch long. Asian and formosan termite infestations have increased roughly 30 in. In the case of the drywood termite as its name indicates it requires very little moisture in the wood it infests. Drywood termites cryptotermes cavifrons are typically a pale brown color.
While native subterranean termite nests have members in the hundreds of thousands formosan subterranean termite nests can have nests in the millions. Subterranean termites are being studied at the university of florida institute of food and agricultural sciences lab in davie. Florida is relatively rich in termite species diversity compared to the rest of mainland u s.