A recent study from the University of Florida has revealed that two invasive species of termites in Florida have begun to spread farther than experts previously predicted, according to are report from our sister station in Orlando WKMG.
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“Decades of monitoring data show the spread is accelerating, with the Asian subterranean termite moving steadily north and the Formosan termite now established in most coastal counties and major urban centers, potentiallyAs such, Lourdes writes, long-term partnerships with pest control professionals will grow to be increasingly important, since these relationships will help experts to better monitor where these termites are heading. , Thomas Chouvenc, an associate professor of urban entomology with the UF/IFAS, explained that the Formosan and Asian termites hail from parts of Asia.
FILE-This March 2, 1998 file photo shows dozens of Formosan termites walking in a glass container at the lab at the University of Florida in Davie. , Chouvenc and other researchers have determined that humans may be helping these termites “conquer the world” by unwittingly ferrying them around via private boats.
“Now, South Florida is one of the few places in the world where these species have established independently,” Chouvenc said. “They’re requested to be two of the most destructive termite species in the world. ”The Formosan species can form colonies with millions of individual termites, potentially causing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to homes.
But while these invasive Formosan termites can be found in a wide range of states — including Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Hawaii, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona and California — that’s not the case for the Asian termites. Similarly to Formosans, they’ve been responsible for home damage and the deaths of plenty of healthy trees in the region. This photo shows the damage of a tree that has been hallowed by an unspecified termite colony.
“I like to call the tropical cousin of a Formosan termite because they are adapted to truly warm temperatures, cannot survive cold temperatures,” Chouvenc stated.
“So it’s been restricted to South Florida. ” “I always say that 99.9% of all infestations in houses will be either Asian termites or Formosan termites,” he added.has revealed that two invasive species of termites in Florida have managed to produce a hybrid, raising concerns about the destructive potential this new breed brings to the table.
Last year, Chouvenc and other researchers finally found a hybrid colony infesting a tree in Fort Lauderdale, leading to the revelation that this new hybrid species has established itself in South Florida. However, Chouvenc said that could change, as further crossbreeding may create hybrids that are better adapted to different temperatures, potentially increasing their range across Florida and even into neighboring states.
Thomas Chouvenc provided a close-up look at all species in a recent study showing the slight differences between the established termite species and the hybridThat being said, it may not be a problem many people today will have to worry about.
“In the very long term — this is beyond our lifetime, I hope — these two species will become ubiquitous in Florida because of their own special ability to spread," he said. In the meantime, Chouvenc explained, researchers are still looking into measures to mitigate the spread of termites and deal with infestations.
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