Hybrid Termites: Coming to a house near you!
Two particularly hungry, exotic termite species apparently have found love halfway around the world and, as with so many other Florida hook-ups, the results are disturbing.
Asian and Formosan subterranean termites are two of the most destructive termite species in the world, responsible for much of the estimated $40 billion in economic losses attributed to termites annually. Their habitat ranges overlap in lush South Florida, already home to a daunting number of invasive plant and animal species thriving where they should not. Each termite invaded Florida, probably through cargo shipments, several decades ago, but experts believed the colonies didn't mingle because their aboveground mating swarms launched in different months.
That is, until University of Florida researcher Thomas Chouvenc noticed something unusual about the termite swarms in his Fort Lauderdale neighborhood two years ago.
The two species were flying around looking for mates at the same time — and they were giving each other that look.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/exotic-termites-find-love-florida-worrying-researchers-29901603
