Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ invasive conehead termite (Nasutitermes corniger) eradication effort

Nasutitermes corniger, an exotic termite native to the Neotropics, was first discovered infesting trees and structures in a marina in Dania Beach, Florida in 2001.  The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) launched an effort to eradicate this arboreal termite, now known by the common name conehead termite, a couple of years later with cooperation from Broward County, the City of Dania Beach, the University of Florida, and pest management professionals.   The conehead termite was believed to have been eradicated from south Florida until it was found infesting a large commercial structure in Dania Beach in July 2011.  Surveys of natural areas and neighborhoods near that building and infested adjacent wetlands revealed three additional residential and natural areas with substantial conehead termite activity.   FDACS reignited aggressive containment and control efforts, focusing especially on complex overgrown acreage.  Two “reservoir areas” have demonstrated consistent activity (nest building, tunneling and foraging) over the past two years.  This presentation will discuss inspection and control strategies along with canine detection, landscape manipulation, and chemical treatment tactics to control these termites when found, and prevent them from spreading further.   The goal of this program is to eradicate this dangerous invasive pest from Florida and thereby save future generations from immense economic and environmental impacts.