Formosan Termite Control

Most Effective Products

Supreme IT Insecticide
Suspended Concentrate
As low as $54.99
FiPro Foaming Aerosol
Aerosol
As low as $28.99
Red Eye Termite Monitoring Station
Station
As low as $14.99
Keith's Pro Tips

"Early detection leads to early treatment, which is critical and ideal for all homeowners before things get serious. Research has shown that Formosan termites can do significant structural damage in as little as six months. And this is mainly because they are most active in the summer."

Formosan Termite Control: How To Get Rid of Formosan Termites

The Formosan termite is a subspecies of subterranean termite. They’re usually referred to as “super termites” because they’re a lot more aggressive compared to their other subterranean species. They are also able to build multiple nests above the ground and form an extremely large colony that ranks them as far more destructive than the average subterranean termite.

Believed to originally come from China and parts of Asia, Formosan termites were introduced to the coastal regions of the United States after WWII due to the influx of immigrants coming into the country during that time. Much like subterranean termites, Formosan termite have 3 forms of termite distinctions within its colony – workers, soldiers, and alates (swarmers). The Formosan Termite alate is 0.5 to 0.6 inches long with a yellowish-brown body. 

Formosan termites prefer warmer climates and their population is concentrated mainly across southern parts of the United States including Alabama, Florida, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, and Tennessee. Large swarms of Formosan termites creep up during the spring and summer months which are the times which it is advised for homeowners to be on high alert and to conduct control programs to prevent these termites from damaging property, which Formosan termites are responsible for up to 2 billion dollars in damages annually.

Our DIY treatment guide was compiled by our termite control experts to show you all that you need to do to eliminate Formosan termites from your home and put a stop to the destruction. Follow the steps carefully and use the suggested products to the side for best results.

Identification

Formosan Termites on Wood

Before you can proceed with a treatment program, you will need to be sure that the pest you are facing is indeed a formosan termite. Misidentification can lead you to using the wrong treatment products and be a waste of your time and money. Below are some characteristics about formosan termites to aid in identification:

  • The Formosan termite colonizes in the ground but also above ground in structures. The swarmers (or alates) are winged. Once mature they leave the original colony and are responsible for producing new colonies. They have tan bodies and are approximately 1.25 inches and have two pairs of wings equal in length. If you see this stage of termite inside or outside your home it should be cause for concern since it is an indication that your home is possibly infested.
  • The king and queen reproductives stay within the colony the full span of their lives, they are the largest of the termites and are hardly ever seen out of the nest. The next member is the soldier. They are approximately one-quarter inch long, their bodies or cream-colored, their head is teardrop-shaped and orange colored. They have large mandibles that cross and are used to protect the colony from intruders.
  • Finally, you have the workers that are cream-colored, about an eighth of an inch long. The workers are responsible for damaging the structure by eating the wood to collect cellulose. The majority of termites consist of worker termites.

Use the description and video above to help you in correctly identifying Formosan termites. If you are not completely sure which termite you have, contact our pest control experts to assist you in correctly ID'ing the termite infestation you have and offer product suggestions for control.

Inspection

Formosan Termite Nest in Wall

Where To Inspect

Typically found in warm, coastal states, they can be found swarming and eating between dusk and 9:30 at night. Their main active period of the year is usually between April and July. 

Look in basements, attics, crawl spaces, and any area that uses wood. When doing these inspections, be sure you equip yourself with a flashlight to check dark areas like basements or attics.

You should also use a screwdriver or sharp ended object to probe termite galleries. Pay close attention to all wood construction, support posts and ceiling joists or areas where soil meets wood.

What To Look For

The signs to look out for are mud tubes, frass, wings and feces. Mud tubes are pencil sized tunnels the termites create to travel to and from your home to their nest.

These mud tubes will be found around wooden structures, foundations or any other structural support.

Treatment

Once you have confirmed termite activity it is time to begin treatment. Remember that you must first read all the product labels and follow their application instructions, and stay safe by wearing personal protective equipment.

The best way of treating Formosan termites is to dig a trench around the home and place the treatment in the trench to act as a barrier. Supreme IT is our go-to product to use as it is a repellent that will kill termites long after application.

Step 1 - Termite Trench Treatment

Trench Taurus SC

Dig a trench around your home 6 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Once that is done use Supreme IT to mix and apply into the dug trench.

Mix 5 fl. oz. of Supreme IT with 4.9 gallons of water in 5-gallon bucket to have a 5 gallon emulsion to treat 10 linear feet per foot of depth.

We recommend using a 5-gallon bucket so that your solution will not be filled to the brim and you can avoid spilling product.

Use a handheld pump sprayer when applying Supreme IT to the trench to spray the dirt before backfilling the trench. This will create a chemical barrier that will keep Formosan termites from coming up from the exterior to access the wood of your home.

Step 2 - Red Eye Monitoring Stations & Fipro Foaming Aerosol

Fipro application via Red Eye

Place Red Eye Monitoring Stations in areas conducive to Formosan termites.

Place them anywhere from 8 to 10 feet apart and at least 5 feet away from the drip edge. Monitoring the Red is simple; There is a clear view window on the top of the station with a painted red eye on a wooden dowel.

As termites come up through the bottom of the station, they will begin to feed on the wood. The red-eye then drops letting you know that there is termite activity.

Take FiPro Foaming Aerosol and inject it into the station. The neat thing about this product is that its a foam so the longer you inject, the deeper it travels through the galleries in the ground, resulting in a direct kill.

Step 3 - Indoor Treatment With Fipro Aerosol

Fipro Application for Termites

Use Fipro Aerosol to apply in all of the termite galleries. You should also inject the foaming aerosol where there is termite activity such as voids, cracks and crevices found around doors, windows, fireplaces, where plumbing meets the wall and also in holes in the sheetrock which may lead to termite galleries.

Prevention 

Termite Monitoring with Red Eye

After you have successfully eliminated formosan termites from your property, you will want to ensure these pests do not return. Here are some preventative measures we suggest following to keep formosan termites away.

  • To prevent Formosan termites from infesting your home in the future, we suggest using Supreme IT Insecticide as a preventative barrier treatment. Supreme IT is a repellant and will provide many years of protection against termites. Use Supreme and perform the trench barrier treatment which was explained in step 3.
  • You can also use Red Eye monitoring stations and place them around the home to monitor for termite activity.
  • Other preventative measures you can take is to reduce moisture around the house. Fix all leaky roofs and windows or plumbing issues to keep your home and yard nice and dry.

Key Takeaways

What Are Formosan Termites

  • Formosan termites are known as “super termites” and can cause a ridiculous amount of damage due to their overly aggressive behavior.

How to Get Rid of Formosan Termites

  • Our top recommendations for Formosan termite control is performing a trench treatment with Supreme IT around your home's perimeter and using Fipro Foaming Aerosol to treat cracks and crevices.

Preventing Formosan Termite Reinfestations

  • A barrier treatment of Supreme IT can give you extended protection to prevent future Formosan termite infestations.
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