Pest Photo

Gerald J. Lenhard, Louisiana State University, Bugwood.org

Formosan subterranean termite

Coptotermes formosanus

Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is an insect pest. It is a native of China and was first detected in Hawaii in 1907.

The Formosan subterranean termite is often nicknamed the super-termite because of its destructive habits. This is because of the large size of its colonies, and the termites' ability to consume wood at a rapid rate and severely damage a structure in as little as three months.

For more information about this plant pest, see the CABI data sheet.