In 1991 Tampa first discovered Formosan subterranean termites near Tampa International Airport. By 1999 they were discovered in nearby Temple Terrace as well. Not long after, a termite inspection discovered them in a warehouse in South Tampa. In 2003, a termite inspection discovered them on Harbor Island, near downtown Tampa.

There is little doubt that new Formosan colonies are being formed in Tampa and around Florida. They are multiplying more quickly than they can be detected. Therefore property owners must become more vigilant. Frequent inspections and immediate treatment by trained professionals must be implemented. These are the only protection against the slow silent Formosan invasion.

It isn't just Tampa, or even Florida's central west coast at risk, its coastal communities throughout Florida and across the Gulf Coast. The Formosan termite has now been found in at least 14 other Florida counties. The fact is that once Formosan termites become established, they've never been eradicated from an area.

In the French Quarter of New Orleans more than 90% of the buildings are infested. Throughout New Orleans, Formosan termites cost more than $300 million per year for control and repair. In Hawaii, Formosan subterranean termites are now believed to be the single most economically important insect pest.

A typical Formosan termite colony has a gigantic appetite. Experts say the average native subterranean termite colony can consume around 7 pounds of wood per year. On the other hand, a Formosan colony can ingest more than 1,000 pounds of wood. To understand the difference, look at the size of the colony. Colonies of Formosan termites can number more than 10 million termites. Colonies of native subterranean termites often are less than 1 million termites.

Few food sources are off limits to Formosan termites. They will eat furniture, books and even living trees. They are quite extremely persistent in finding an entry into a building. They can chew through thin lead, copper sheeting, PVC, foam insulation boards, plaster, asphalt, rubber, and some plastics to find wood. Other termites cannot. Formosan termites can find, and fit through cracks through concrete as small as 1/16".

Can these termites be controlled, or better yet, prevented? While fumigation, or tenting, can be effective against drywood termites, Formosan colonies aren't seriously affected by fumigation because they have both underground and above ground nests. They will lose some workers, after tenting, the termites return. For this reason fumigation should never be the primary method of treatment for Formosan subterranean termites.

Termite bait stations have been around since the mid 1990's. They work by using very small amounts of slow-acting poison over many months. In the hands of a trained termite professional, they've proven their worth and over the years have become the primary method of protecting and treating properties under attack by Formosan termites.

The entire Gulf Coast, from Texas to Florida is currently under attack, or under threat of attack from Formosan subterranean termites. Frequent termite inspections, and protection programs that include bait stations monitored regularly by termite professionals offer the best defense for property owners.