Termites and Trees

I have been asked, why are there termites. The simplest answer is termites are here to recycle wood. The problems start when they want to recycle our houses and trees. Most all termites will attact trees that are damaged in someway; a lightening strike or an area weaken by fungus. Unfortunately Formosan Subterranean Termites will also attack living trees causing significant damage and rendering the trees unsafe. Over 300 trees were reported blown down in New Orleans by the winds of Katrina and most of those were found to have contained active Formosan Subterranean Termites colonies. The infestation not only resulted in the loss of the tree with all of it's intrinsic value, but trees in an urban setting can cause considerable damage when they fall.
After hurricane Gustov, one of the beautiful old oaks on the Forsythe Park golf course was found split in two. Closer examination found the interior of the tree riddled by Formosan Subterranean Termites. Infested trees can be treated and this one had, but older trees are harder to treat successfully due to their larger bulk. Treating tree involves trenching the exterior of the tree and applying the appropriate insecticide and using a foaming insecticide mix on the interior of the tree to fill all of the voids caused by the feeding of the termites.
When Formosan Subterranean Termites infest a tree in over 90 percent of the cases mud tubes will be found on the exterior of the tree. If an infested tree is cut or suffers a broken limb the termites will seek to mud over the break in the tree.

They are trying to maintain the high moisture levels they require inside their tunnels. This picture is of a tree that was blown over in a windstorm in West Monroe. The tree damaged the roof of a near by house and the fallen tree was cut back to remove limbs from the roof. I examined the tree the next day and found that the termites had sealed this opening with mud. If the tree had still been standing this part of the tree would have been about 30 feet off the ground, which means that the termites were actively feeding in the tree above this point. Other trees suffering similar damage have fallen in the garden district of Monroe. In all cases the trees were removed and destroyed. Trees in urban settings need to be continually examined for signs of termite activity to prevent damage and loss of the trees. Fire ants can actually be of benefit in this scouting. Fire ants eat termites and will build their mounds against or into the base of trees to be closer to their termite food source.