Hybrid Termites Confirmed in Florida: What It Means for You

At Total Pest Solutions, we stay at the forefront of pest management to keep your home safe. A recent study from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has revealed a concerning development in the battle against termites: hybrid termite colonies have been confirmed in South Florida. This discovery has significant implications for homeowners and property managers throughout the state.

What Are Hybrid Termites?

Termites are a homeowner’s nightmare, capable of causing extensive and costly damage to structures. In Florida, we have long battled two particularly destructive invasive species: the Formosan subterranean termite and the Asian subterranean termite. These termites typically form massive underground colonies and send out winged termites to start new nests.

UF/IFAS scientists have confirmed that these two termite species are now not only overlapping in certain areas but are also crossbreeding to form hybrids. This hybridization, a process where two species interbreed to produce offspring with mixed genetic traits, was recently documented in a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

A Decade of Observation

According to Thomas Chouvenc, associate professor of urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center and lead author of the study, researchers first noticed interspecies courtship behavior about 10 years ago during spring swarming events. However, it wasn’t clear whether these hybrid termites could thrive or reproduce successfully in the wild.

Monitoring these elusive pests proved challenging, as termite colonies are cryptic by nature. But in 2021, UF/IFAS researchers started finding winged termites that didn’t fit the profile of either known species. Subsequent genetic testing confirmed these termites were indeed hybrids, with genes from both the Formosan and Asian subterranean termites.

The First Confirmed Hybrid Colony

In October 2024, researchers conducting a routine survey of a city park in Fort Lauderdale discovered a tree infested with a hybrid termite colony. The soldiers in this colony exhibited distinctive traits that matched the hybrids previously studied in the lab. This confirmed that hybrid colonies can establish and thrive in the wild.

Alarmingly, these hybrids had likely been present for over five years before detection, and scientists suspect many more colonies have already formed throughout urban South Florida.

Why This Matters for Polk County Homeowners

The discovery of hybrid termite colonies raises serious concerns. Both parent species are known for their aggressive foraging and rapid colony growth, leading to extensive structural damage. Hybrids could potentially combine these destructive traits, posing an even greater threat to homes and buildings.

As this report from local news shows, the situation is urgent.

 

Total Pest Solutions: Here to Protect Your Home

At Total Pest Solutions, we understand the evolving challenges of pest management in Florida. Hybrid termite infestations represent a new and complex threat, and staying proactive is essential.

Here’s what you can do:

✅ Schedule regular termite inspections – Early detection is key to minimizing damage.
✅ Maintain a strong barrier – Preventative treatments can protect your home from subterranean termite invasions.
✅ Stay informed – As pest control experts, we continuously monitor research and field data to provide you with the most effective solutions.

Concerned about termites? Reach out to Total Pest Solutions today. Our team uses the latest tools and treatment strategies to safeguard your property from both native and hybrid termite threats.