Notes About Formosan Termite Rumor
Jeff Knight, State Entomologist
Nevada State Department of Agriculture

1) Quarantine

Louisiana has a quarantine to prevent the movement of any cellulose/wood material out of infested parishes.

2) Survival through the mulching process

The chipping/mulching process would break up any above ground colony and from the heat created would kill most individuals or if the mulch was fine enough physically kill them. This would also physically separate the subterranean part of the colony from the soil which they depend on most of the time.

The bagging process and storage of bagged mulch is normally not conducive to the survival of many insects including termites due to temperature and humidity fluctuations (both high and low) often over extended periods of time. Bulk shipments may present some issues, but again having the right conditions for survival is minimal for this species.

The act of spreading mulch in the landscape would also breakup any colonies present and expose it to predators and the elements. The colony would also have to find a new source of food and move to it, not an easy task.

3) Basic Termite biology

Formosan termites can be possibly spread long distances by two methods: 1) The transportation of viable colonies and the re-establishment at a new location. With this species this is most likely though solid wood such as landscape timbers (railroad ties), infested trees or larger portions of these and possibly potted plants. 2) Transportation of mated pairs; in establishing a new colony, a king and queen mate and find a suitable habitat to start a colony. This is the most vulnerable time in a colonies life and although I don’t have exact numbers, I’m sure well over 95% of all colonies fail at this point.

Small newly formed colonies would be even more susceptible to above disruptions.

This insect is a tropical/subtropical insect and has rather specific temperature and moisture requirements for survival and reproduction. In Nevada’s case the biggest limiting factor would be that this insect is not known to occur north of 35 degrees N latitude (this is the southern tip of Nevada). Extremes in heat and low humidity would also limit its ability to survive here. Las Vegas, at 36 degrees N latitude, would be very marginal for survival.

4) Adaptation

A comment has been made that these insects may "adapt" to our area; this is a very long process and requires an adjacent established population to happen.Finding microclimates in Nevada to survive is a remote possibly with this species, but spreading from those microclimates is another barrier that the insect would have to overcome.

5) The major stores mentioned in the email.

Both Lowe’s and Home Depot have reportedly made statements that they do not obtain mulch from Louisiana.

With all these hurdles to overcome I feel the threat of Formosan termites being brought into Nevada from Louisiana in mulch is negligible if not non-existent. However, in all cases we should always be watchful for this and other material that might be being moved into Nevada in violation of any state or Federal quarantine. In the future we should remember that any real threat like this will come through the normal USDA and State Department of Agriculture channels.

Links:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/termites.asp
http://www.txnla.org/

Jeff B. Knight, Entomologist
Nevada Department of Agriculture
350 Capitol Hill Ave.
Reno NV 89502
775.688.1182.245
jknight@govmail.state.nv.us"

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Carolyn