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"What are Formosan termites, I heard they were called "super" termites, where are they found?"

The Formosan subterranean termite, (Coptotermes Formosanus Shiraki) is considered one of the most destructive and aggressive species of termites in the world due to their large nesting sizes. The type of damage this termite causes is almost the same as that caused by the Eastern Subterranean termite. The difference is that the damage happens at a much more rapid rate. A mature colony can contain between 1 to 10 million termites, and its foraging territory may cover 38,500 square feet. In Hawaii, where unprotected homes were built over large colonies, records show that Formosan subterranean termites caused major structural damage in 6 months, and almost complete destruction in 2 years.

In 1965, they were first discovered in the continental United States at a Houston, Texas, shipyard. In 1966, well established colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite were discovered in New Orleans and Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Houston and Galveston, Texas. In 1967, they were found in Charleston, South Carolina. Well-established colonies were also detected in Florida in 1980, 1982, and 1984.

Ships have facilitated the introduction and spread of the Formosan subterranean termite throughout the world. Once introduced, swarming is the termite's natural method of spread. Since the Formosan subterranean termite is a weak flier and does not spread rapidly by itself, the movement of infested soil or material such as lumber, wooden crates, or other wooden products is another important method by which it spreads. These termites are commonly associated with the railroad ties used for landscaping.

In the United States, the Formosan subterranean termite generally has been confined to the southeast at about 32.5N latitude. This latitude coincides with the warmer temperatures usually associated with this termites. However, the widespread use of central heating in the United States may encourage the spread of the Formosan subterranean termite. Central heating provides a warm environment conducive to the survival of termites during winter.

Like other termites, Formosan subterranean termites feed on cellulose. Cellulose is the major component in wood and paper products. In addition to feeding of the wood in our homes, they have attacked more than 47 species of living plants including citrus, wild cherry, cherry laurel, sweet gum, cedar, willow, wax myrtle, Chinese elm, and white oak. Formosan subterranean termites attack the bases of poles, old tree stumps, or other wood in contact with soil. They can construct galleries to the upper stories of buildings to feed on the wood.

This termite is now so out of control in Louisiana, particularly in the New Orleans area, that the state legislature recently passed a law allowing the Agriculture and Foresty Commissioner to develop new rules for wood use statewide. Specifically, the draft version would require home builders in LA to use only chemically treated wood that repels termites. This is welcomed news in New Orleans where 85 percent of the buildings are estimated to be infested.

Formosan subterranean termites have also been known to attack (but not eat) non-cellulose material such as thin sheets of soft metal (lead or copper), asphalt, plaster, mortar, creosote, rubber, and plastic in search of food and moisture. However, their highly publicized ability to chew through concrete is a fallacy. Instead of chewing through the concrete, Formosan subterranean termites are uncanny in finding small cracks in concrete that they use as foraging routes.

So far, no reports of these destructive insects have been found in the New England area.