Wood consumption rates of young (2 year-old) colonies of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were measured. Termite colonies were reared in the laboratory from alates captured with an UV light trap in New Orleans, Louisiana during May 2001. Paired dealates were reared in artificial diet for 1 year and then transferred to plastic boxes provided with wood, soil, and water. When colonies reached 26 months of age number of individuals per colony was determined and recorded. Colonies were provided with soil, water and pieces of red gum (Liquidambar styrasiflua L.). The wood pieces were dried in a vacuum oven, weighted, and exposed to the termite colonies for 60 days at 27 ± 1°C, 93% RH. Consumption rate was calculated (in mg/day) by weight loss of wood pieces after exposure to the colonies. Data consisting of caste counts and percentages and wood consumption rates were analyzed by linear regression. Analysis showed that number of mature individuals per colony and soldier proportion correlated with consumption rates. Stepwise analysis indicated that the best linear model explaining colony consumption rates included number of workers and percent soldiers as independent variables. These results suggest that soldier percentage significantly impact worker foraging rates in C. formosanus.