It’s termite season in south Louisiana, and local exterminators are seeing more cases of a particularly vicious breed of the insect wreaking havoc in local homes.

Coptotermes formosanus, more commonly referred to as the formosan subterranean termite, is a type of termite that is known to eat up trees and wooden structures like homes. The termites average length is approximately a half-inch long and has densely covered hair.

Formosan swarms are known to hit south Louisiana from Lake Charles to New Orleans around the Mother’s Day holiday, but Kevin Sellers with Sugarland Exterminating said the numbers have been increasing in the past two to three years. 

“I can tell you I’ve gotten 30 to 40 calls in the past two days over Formosan termites,” Sellers said Wednesday. “When a colony gets big enough, it could be a block away or next door from tree or fence, and if the wind is right it’ll blow in your direction.” 

Sellers said the termites spread along the waterways, and will  get in trees, make colonies and swarm. A small percentage could make it in your home and then spread another colony.

Unlike other types of subterranean termites, the formosan is more aggressive and needs a smaller percentage of moisture in order to survive. Sellers said he recommends local homeowners to eliminate any moisture problems they may have to avoid the pests. 

A few winged termites found in a house usually do not indicate a problem, but more than 100 winged termites suggest the house may be infested, LSU entomologist Dennis Ring said in a recent article from the LSU AgCenter.

 “Inspect the structure for mud tubes, which termites use to travel from the soil into structures,” Ring said.

Another sign that one’s house may be infested with a Formosan termite is the appearance of cartons. Formosan termites create nesting material made up of a combination of excrement, chewed wood and soil. These carton nests are usually found in structure voids, such as between walls and underneath sinks.

The LSU AgCenter has said that the termites have been found in Sabine, Vernon, Rapides, Avoyelles, Concordia parishes, and all parishes south of those parishes.