UF Scientists: New Termite Found In Florida May Be Highly Destructive

November 14, 1996

GAINESVILLE—A new subterranean termite recently discovered in South Florida may be just as destructive as the dreaded Formosan termite, say University of Florida scientists.

Two infestations of the termite, known to researchers by its scientific name Coptotermes havilandi Holmgren, were recently found in Miami and have provided the first record of this species in the continental United States. C. havilandi is a destructive pest of wood and agricultural crops across Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Nan-Yao Su, a specialist in structural and household pests at UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, said the newly discovered termite has the potential to cause tremendous damage to susceptible homes and other structures.

“This species has a wider distribution and is more destructive than our native subterranean termites,” Su said. “By the next 10 or 20 years, we could have a devastating situation on our hands unless we do something now.”

Found primarily in tropical regions such as southeast Asia, Brazil and the Caribbean, the damaging potential of C. havilandi is similar to that of the closely related Formosan subterranean termite, which causes devastating damage to structures worldwide, Su said. In southeast Asia, C. havilandi has attacked dead and dying trees of various species, construction timber, furniture, structural wood, plastics and synthetic fibers. The species is currently considered the major structural pest in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and like the Formosan termite, C. havilandi has constructed aerial nests in the city’s high-rise buildings.

Because this species is more adapted to tropical climates, the termite would not be expected to move into northern areas of the state. But because central heating systems in today’s homes create warmer atmospheres, the movement pattern of the termite has the potential to change altogether, Su said.

Mike Petrozzino, a regional entomologist inspector and environmental specialist with Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, was contacted in the spring about two infestation sites, a church and a pawn shop west of the Port of Miami. Pest control companies had treated the sites for more than five years, but had disagreed about the type of termite causing the damage. Because of the location and the length of the unsuccessful treatments, scientists believe the C. havilandi species entered Miami 10 years ago by boat. In the past, boats infested by the species were found in Caribbean and Florida waters.

Petrozzino took specimens of the termite to Su at UF/IFAS’ Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center after examining unusual, “carton-like” damage in the buildings. A close examination showed the infestations were of the C. havilandi species and not the Formosan termite as suspected. Su, a world-renowned expert on subterranean termites, had previously developed the Sentricon Colony Elimination System, which is one of the most advanced termite elimination systems available.

Now sold through DowElanco, the Sentricon is placed underground near infected areas and uses a baiting system to deliver a compound that makes termites unable to molt. The entire colony is eventually eliminated.

Using principles of Integrated Pest Management, Su and other researchers are now using the Sentricon system for monitoring the infestation sites of the C. havilandi termite.

“We are testing the potential of different applications and the baiting in various application techniques. The baiting system will kill, but we want to study these infestations to develop more information on how to deal with this insect,” Su said.

Petrozzino said termites are attracted to wood with high moisture content, so for homeowners to decrease their chance of invasion, they should look for roof and plumbing leaks, and keep wood painted and preserved as best they can.

“Roof and plumbing leaks cause wood to have a high moisture content, making homes and buildings susceptible to a variety of termites and other insects,” Petrozzino said. “It’s their position in nature to finish off damaged wood. We just make our homes out of their diet.”