Recently, scientists have been monitoring an unusual situation in which termites are crossbreeding and hybridizing with other species of termites. These two species of insects are known to be incredibly invasive and fans of creating massive colonies, which could mean a nightmare for homeowners, especially if they begin nesting in Shreveport.

The Birth of a "Super Termite"

About 10 years ago, Thomas Chouvenc, an Associate Professor at the University of Florida, noticed males and females from the Formosan species and Asian species of termite were mating with each other. Terminix of NOLA states that Formosan and Asian Subterranean are the most destructive species of termite in the South, now imagine how devastating a mix of the two could be.

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A study published recently by The Royal Society proves that over the last decade the hybridization has resulted in a new hybrid insect with DNA from both the Formosan and Asian species.

Termitarium Found At Chongqing Education College
A termite queen (L) and a termite king (R) | Photo by China Photos/Getty Images
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Currently, the hybrids are confirmed to be found in Florida, but could easily spread and could easily find their way to Shreveport when they look to build the next swarm. The reason these insects present such a danger is that they're new, they might have a new preference for food that they'll tear through with the estimated massive sizes of their swarms.

Why Shreveport Might be at Risk

Both the Formosan and Asian create massive colonies. The hybrid has an advantage over its parent species with an increased resistance to both hot and cold weather. Subterranean termites swarm in the spring to find places for new colonies, and love to find humid places with damp soil (sounds a little like Shreveport).

While it might be some time before the new hybrid super termite species invades Louisiana, scientists and exterminators need to find the best way to fight back against these massive swarms of incoming weather-resistant bugs.

Orkin's Top 50 Most Termite Infested Cities in America 2025

Orkin dropped its yearly termite city watchlist, and it's a roundup of all the places where their pros were busy busting termites in homes. The list is built from data collected between January 1 and December 31, 2024, and gives a pretty solid snapshot of the cities that are struggling with these tiny pests. Here's a look at Orkin's Top 50 Most Termite Infested Cities in America 2025

Gallery Credit: Scott Clow

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