The Asian subterranean termite is a global traveler that destroys homes from the inside

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Often confused with its cousin the Formosan termite, the Asian subterranean termite is a formidable pest that has hitched rides on boats to colonize new continents. These insects are voracious, consuming everything from structural timber to rubber and plastic, often leaving buildings hollowed out before their presence is even detected.

Coptotermes gestroi, originally endemic to Southeast Asia, has spent the last century expanding its range through human activity. First reported in the New World tropics in 1923, it has since established itself across various West Indian islands and parts of Mexico. In 1996, it was discovered in the continental United States for the first time, infesting a storefront and a church in Miami, Florida. By 2005, established colonies were recorded as far north as Riviera Beach, marking a significant expansion for this tropical species.

The species is notoriously difficult to distinguish from the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus. Both share a tear drop-shaped head and a forehead opening called a fontanelle, which soldiers use to exude a defensive white secretion. However, microscopic examination reveals key differences: C. gestroi soldiers possess one pair of hairs near the fontanelle, whereas C. formosanus has two. Furthermore, C. gestroi alates are slightly smaller and darker in color than their Formosan counterparts.

These termites are highly destructive, responsible for 80% to 90% of insect-related structural damage in Singapore and Malaysia. They consume cellulose-containing materials, including wood, cardboard, and paper, and will even drill through rubber and styrofoam. Because they live underground and enter buildings through small cracks or utility conduits, they often remain hidden until swarms of winged alates appear indoors. In Florida, shipboard infestations are considered a primary method of dispersal, as these termites frequently fly from docked boats to land, allowing them to establish new colonies in coastal areas.

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