This post is both revealing and shocking.
It’s because you’ll get to know the worst type of termite in the US in 2020 and the worst states for termites.
So, if you’re living in one of those worst states for termites, it’d be best if you’re more alert for termite infestation.
Worst Type Of Termite In The US
The worst type of termite in the US is the Formosan Termite.
Formosan termite is a type of Subterranean termite that invades homes from the underground.
Bigger than Subterranean termites, Formosan termites devour wood at a faster rate than any other termites.
Estimates say that a colony of Formosan termites can quickly finish off 2 ounces of wood per day.
It’s not only the rate of eating that makes them a menace to every home.
It’s also their numbers and their ability to cover massive areas make them destructive.
A colony of Formosan termites can easily have 400,000 termites. They can infest and destroy any home or structure within the 1600-foot radius.
Formosan termites are most active in South Carolina and Florida, and they’re quickly spreading to other parts of the US.
What Do Formosan Termites Look Like?
It’s hard for an average person to distinguish Formosan termites from subterranean termites.
Both are a bit different when it comes to their biology.
So, it’s always best to contact a professional termite controller to deal with Formosan termites.
Depending on the work Formosan termites do, there are three groups (or castes) of Formosan termites.
These groups are –
- The winged termites or the reproductive groups are also known as alates.
- The protector or soldier termites.
- The worker termites.
Alates are winged termites, also known as swarmers. It’s the life cycle phase of Formosan termites when they develop wings to fly out of their existing colonies.
And why do they do that?
There are two reasons for it – first, they look for a new place to infest or establish a colony. And second, to reproduce.
Once these alates move to a new place, they shed their wings, they mate, and they start building their colonies to lay their eggs.
The size of the alate Formosan termites is from 0.3 – 0.4 inches, including their wingspan.
They are pale yellow, and they’ve translucent wings. There are also bristles on the back of the alate Formosan termites, which they shed once they mated.
These alates are most active during the summer months.
Next are the soldier termites.
Soldier termites are there to defend the colonies from invasion by ants or any other termite eater.
Ants eat termites. But the soldier termites fight a fierce battle against the ants when they invade the colony.
The head of the soldier Formosan termite is oblong, whereas the subterranean termite’s head is more rectangular.
Only a professional termite controller can spot the difference between them.
It’s because the color of both the Formosan soldier termite and the subterranean termites are alike.
And finally, there’s the worker Formosan termite who does all the wood damage.
The worker Formosan termite is white and smaller than the soldier Formosan termites.
But these worker Formosan termites are bigger and more destructive than the subterranean termites.
Types Of Termites In The US
In the US, there are four types of termites.
- Subterranean termites
- Formosan Termites
- Drywood Termites
- Dampwood Termites
Subterranean and Formosan Termites attack the homes and structures from underneath the ground.
And they’re most common in the US.
Drywood termites invade homes in swarms.
Like the Formosan termites, drywood termites develop wings when they’re about to reproduce.
But drywood termites don’t infest home from underground.
Instead, they fly in.
Drywood termites are a significant risk to the structural wood of your home.
They’re hard and expensive to get rid of as compared to any other type of termite.
A home heavily infested by drywood termites needs heat treatment to get rid of drywood termites.
To know more, check out our post on how drywood termites infest your home.
Dampwood termites are not a considerable risk to your home because they prefer to live and feed on rotting wood.
They’re more likely to remain in the piece of decaying wood in your yard or garden.
Worst States For Termites
Below are the top 10 states where homes and establishments face the highest risk of termite invasion.
- Florida
- South Carolina
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Mississippi
- Texas
- California
- Louisiana
- Hawaii
- North Carolina
Florida tops the list, and south of Florida is where the termite infestation is the highest.
Over the years, there has been a significant increase in termite infestation in Charleston, South Carolina.
And with the humidity levels and increase in average temperatures, risks of termite and bed bug infestation are bound to increase.
Weather plays a significant role in determining the level of risk of termite infestation.
The more humid, warm, and tropical the weather is, the bigger the risk of termites.
Alaska, North Dakota, Maine, and Minnesota, with their lower temperatures, have the least risk of termite infestation.
Termites cause more damage to US homes in 2020 than armed robbery and riots put together.
Every year termites cause $5 billion of damages across the US, and an average homeowner spends $3427 per year on termite treatment.
Termites are challenging pests to get rid of.
And most of the time, the early signs of termite infestation aren’t evident.
You get to know about termites’ presence when the infestation levels have increased or the damages caused are more apparent.
That’s why it’s always wise to do quarterly pest inspections for your home and property.
At a very minimum cost, you’ll be able to avoid a massive termite infestation in the future.
What Should You Do To Protect Your Homes Against Termites?
You certainly can take some steps to protect your home against termites, especially when you live in one of the ten high-risk states.
Here are the essential steps –
- Reduce moisture content in your home by fixing water leakages.
- Keep your yard or garden clean and free from rotting pieces of wood.
- Use hardwood mulch in your garden.
- Keep firewood away from your home.
- Use termite granules around your home’s perimeter.
- Use window shields with smaller mesh to stop drywood termite swarms from entering your home.
- Seal any gaps and cracks on the home’s exterior walls.
- Get a termite inspection done for your home.
Final Words
Formosan termites are the worst type of termites in the US.
These termites multiply in large numbers, and their reach of destruction is highest among all the termites.
To know more on termite infestation, read our post on what causes termites to invade your home.
We’re Mark and Jim, and we’re retired pest controllers who made homes pest-free for more than three decades. We, along with our team of experts, founded this site to give you the pest control hacks that work.