Formosan Termites Invading Twin Cities

The LSU AgCenter is reporting larger numbers of the Formosan Termite this year. And they say the pests can eat through 10 times more wood than the native ones. LSU AgCenter agent Gary Wilson is checking his traps for Formosan Termites around Monroe and West Monroe. "They've started a little earlier this year and the numbers have been a little greater this year,” said Wilson. Wilson says Formosan colonies do more damage because they can breed much faster than native termites. About 20 years ago the critters that mainly differ from the native ones by their red color migrated here from South Louisiana. "Move around through landscape timbers and through potted,” said Wilson. That’s been keeping businesses like Best Exterminators busy killing Formosans off. "A colony can go through 100 pounds of wood in a year, Formosan termites, a colony can go through a thousand pounds of wood a year,” said Jacob Best of Best Exterminators. This year Wilson expects one of the worst Formosan seasons in the last several years. One of the ways Wilson is checking for termites is this glue trap. He found over 40 Formosan Termites on this one glue trap near Kiroli Park Wilson says Formosan’s are hard to get rid of because they can build water cartons inside your home and never leave to die outside. "You have to make sure they haven't already constructed a carton inside your house or they can last a long time up to a year,” said Wilson. Keeping Formosan's away can be as simple as removing plants from near your home. "Don't have them where they'll brush against the brick if you apply mulch to your flower bed and let it extend above the slab,” said Wilson. Wilson says look around your home outside for a Formosan’s path inside this, "A mud tube." If you see one Wilson says call an exterminator "If you don't catch it in a year after they've swarmed or started on your house they can do a considerable amount of damage,” said Best. Wilson says now is good time to check for Formosan termites. He says the sooner you can exterminate them, the better chance your house has of making it.