Formosan Subterranean Termite Control

Formosan Subterranean Termites In Central Texas

The Formosan subterranean termite is the most aggressive termite that reaches Central Texas, and its enormous colonies can overwhelm a structure far faster than a native termite.

Because a Formosan colony is so large and can nest above ground, treatment has to break the soil-to-wood path and find any aerial nest, an approach the Texas A&M AgriLife guide to subterranean termites explains.

Signs You Have Formosan Subterranean Termites

Formosan termites hide their work like other subterraneans, but on a bigger scale:

• Mud tubes running up foundations, piers, and walls, often more extensive than a native colony’s.
• Spongy carton nesting material packed into wall voids, where a moisture leak feeds an aerial nest.
• Large evening swarms of yellowish-brown winged termites around lights in late spring.
• Discarded wings on sills and near light fixtures after a swarm.
• Hollow or sagging wood that fails quickly as the colony feeds around the clock.

Are Formosan Subterranean Termites Dangerous?

Formosan subterranean termites are not a health threat, but they are the most financially destructive termite a Central Texas home can face. A mature colony can number in the millions and consume wood far faster than a native subterranean termite, so damage adds up in months rather than years.

Their carton nests make them worse, since a nest fed by a hidden leak can keep a colony alive inside a wall even without soil contact. As with other termites, the damage is usually excluded from homeowners insurance as a preventable maintenance issue, which is why ongoing protection matters.

How We Get Rid of Formosan Subterranean Termites

Stride treats Formosan subterranean termites through the five-step Stride Forward process, aimed at both the soil path and any nest above it:

1. Inspect. We check the foundation, crawl space, and wood for mud tubes, carton material, and the moisture that feeds aerial nests.
2. Identify. We confirm Formosan termites by their large evening swarms and carton nesting, rather than a native subterranean or drywood termite.
3. Recommend. We flag the leaks, wood-to-soil contact, and drainage problems feeding the colony.
4. Treat. We establish a non-repellent liquid termiticide barrier in the soil and set in-ground bait stations, so foraging termites carry the active ingredient back to the colony, and we address any aerial nest we find.
5. Evaluate. We monitor the stations and the structure on recurring visits, since a colony this large demands constant pressure.

Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.

How to Keep Formosan Subterranean Termites Away

Keeping Formosan termites out comes down to the same fundamentals as any subterranean, done diligently:

• Fix moisture from leaks, condensation, and poor drainage that could feed an aerial nest.
• Keep wood off the soil, holding a gap between the ground and any siding, trim, or stored wood.
• Keep mulch and firewood back from the foundation and off the ground.
• Reduce nighttime lighting near the house during late-spring swarm season, or switch to less attractive bulbs.
• Keep an annual inspection going, since catching a fast colony early saves the most.

Formosan Subterranean Termite Control Frequently Asked Questions

Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.

The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.

Our Certifications & Awards

Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.

Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.

Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.