Formosan Termites

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

A homeowner cut down a Red Cedar and brought me a log section to make her a couple of bowls. Her grandfather had planted it and it had sentimental value to the family. When I ripped it I was stunned to find an active Termite nest.

I'm from Connecticut and used Eastern Red Cedar for fence posts, pole barns, closet and chest linings. In 60 years I have never seen bugs in Red Cedar. I scooped up some of them, put them in a jar and took them to the Clemson Extension office in Charleston. I was a general contractor and home builder and had seen various colors of termites but none that where goldish. The people at the center took one look and said they were Formosan. They told me they can chew through concrete, sheet rock and Red Cedar didn't effect them. Live and learn.

 

[Richard Coers]

Normally, no, termites do not eat concrete. Contrary to some myths, not even the notorious Formosan termites can eat concrete. https://mytermitetreatmentcosts.com/do-termites-eat-concrete/

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I think the point is that concrete is not necessarily going to stop this little pest. I have always heard they came in thru New Orleans. They make building in the south interesting. I had a section of cedar fence that was basically hollowed out by them.

 

[Richard Coers]

You're suggesting they were joking just about the concrete and not the other two items in the same sentence? Concrete won't stop any type of termites. They find tiny cracks or even build a mud tunnel inside cement blocks.

 

[Paul M. Kaplowitz]

Richard, If you read what I wrote - I said chew through concrete, not eat concrete. Termites eat cellulose, but Formosan according to the Clemson Entomologist, will chew through concrete to get to it.

 

[Mark Jundanian]

@Paul M. Kaplowitz , what's your plan to deal with the wood/termites?

 

[Richard Coers]

Richard, If you read what I wrote - I said chew through concrete, not eat concrete. Termites eat cellulose, but Formosan according to the Clemson Entomologist, will chew through concrete to get to it.

They still have to have the capability to bite pieces of the concrete off to either chew or eat it, right? It's splitting hairs to differentiate chewing or eating, but it's too unbelievable to me since I can only dent concrete with a chisel and hammer. My comment was from the University of Florida. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG064#

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

You're suggesting they were joking just about the concrete and not the other two items in the same sentence? Concrete won't stop any type of termites. They find tiny cracks or even build a mud tunnel inside cement blocks.

I was going to drop this but then after reading Paul's last post looked again and found this from FLORIDA
can Formosan termites chew thru concrete

 

[Richard Coers]

I was going to drop this but then after reading Paul's last post looked again and found this from FLORIDA
can Formosan termites chew thru concrete

I've already given up, but will let you know the link doesn't work.

 

[hockenbery]

This article was posted above

ENY-216/MG064: Formosan Subterranean Termite

University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension outreach is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. The University of Florida (UF), together with Florida A&M University (FAMU)...

edis.ifas.ufl.edu

Contains these two sections

DO FORMOSAN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES EAT ANYTHING ELSE BESIDES WOOD?
Although they feed mostly on wood, they will eat other cellulose-containing materials such as cardboard and paper. However, they are known to chew through foam insulation boards, thin lead and copper sheeting, plaster, asphalt, and some plastics.

IS IT TRUE THEY EAT CONCRETE?
Contrary to popular myth, FORMOSAN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES DO NOT EAT CONCRETE nor can the soldier's defensive fluid dissolve holes in concrete. These rumors continue because Formosan subterranean termites are always digging through the soil. Because of this continuous activity, they are likely to find cracks and crevices in concrete or mortar and gain entry to a structure. This can fool someone into thinking that Formosan subterranean termites can eat through solid concrete.

EDIT —. This Article

Formosan Termite Consumer FAQ / Formosan Termite Program / Termites / Pest Control / Consumer Rights and Responsibilities / Consumer Resources / Home - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

www.fdacs.gov

Contains this section

Can Formosan termites chew through concrete?
They cannot chew through concrete but can displace small grains of concrete one at a time to break through. They also will exploit cracks the thickness of a credit card to get through concrete slabs and structures. Formosans have been known to chew through but not eat soft metals, plastics like PVC pipe, and rubber.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

The article say they chew concrete and displace one grain at a time to break thru and is from Florida Dept AG

https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Reso...Termite-Program/Formosan-Termite-Consumer-FAQ