FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WFLA) – A new study conducted by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences confirms the presence of hybrid termite colonies in South Florida.
The study, published in Journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, documents two variations of destructive and invasive species, Formosan underground termites and Asian underground termites, not only coexist, but are currently mated.
Research findings show that both termite species tend to form giant colonies, and upon maturity, they can place winged termites to find companions and establish new nests as kings and queens.
The fertility suspicion began about a decade ago when Thomas Tuvens, an associate professor of urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, said that men and women of both species had been observed showing Speci courtship behavior.
“This was unexpected and we raised a red flag about the possibility that hybrid populations could form on the ground,” Chouvenc said.
In 2021, Chouvenc reported that his team began collecting winged termites in the Fort Lauderdale area that do not match the shape or morphology of either termite species, urging them to increase surveillance.
“I couldn’t believe it at first because I never wanted to find it,” Chouvenc said. “Since then, we have confirmed the existence of hybrid herds every year since 2021, including April 2021.”
Genetic testing confirmed that the new species was a sample of hybrid termites, sharing half of the gene with each of the two species.
With the discovery, scientists warn that the effects of new invasive termite species can be extended well beyond Florida.
“This may be Florida’s story right now, but it won’t just be Florida. Give it time,” Chowben warned.
The hybridization process is likely to have been in progress for 10 years and is impossible to stop. However, scientists say understanding the biology of this new termite species and its weaknesses will help improve pest management and promote better solutions over time.
