Formosan subterranean termite

Formosan termite
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Blattodea
Infraorder:	Isoptera
Family:	Rhinotermitidae
Genus:	Coptotermes
Species:	C. formosanus
Binomial name
Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, 1909
Synonyms
Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, 1909 Coptotermes formosae Holmgren, 1911 Coptotermes hongkonensis Oshima, 1914 Coptotermes intrudens Oshima, 1920 Coptotermes remotus Silvestri, 1928 Coptotermes eucalyptus Ping, 1984 Coptotermes xiaoliangensis Ping, 1984 Coptotermes guangzhouensis Ymg, 1985 Coptotermes heteromorphus Ping, 1985 Coptotermes (Polycrinitermes) communis Xia & He, 1986 Coptotermes rectangularis Ping, Xu, Xu & Gong,72 1986

The Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is a species of termite local to southern China and introduced to Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa, where it gets its name), Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka,^[1] Hawaii, and the continental United States.

The Formosan termite is often nicknamed the super-termite because of its destructive habits due to the large size of its colonies and its ability to consume wood at a rapid rate. Populations of these termites have become large enough to appear on New Orleans' weather radars.^[2]

A mature Formosan colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood a day (about 400 g) and can severely damage a structure in as little as three months.

Formosan termites infest a wide variety of structures (including boats and high-rise condominiums) and can damage trees. In the United States, along with another species, Coptotermes gestroi, introduced from Southeast Asia, they are responsible for tremendous damage to property resulting in large treatment and repair costs.