Two Exotic Termite Species Lookin' For Love In South Florida

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — They've come to South Florida looking for love in all the wrong places.

Like in the floors, walls and attics of our homes.

Asian and Formosan subterranean termites are two of the most destructive termite species in the world, responsible for much of the estimated $40 billion in economic losses attributed to termites annually.

Each has established colonies here over the last several decades. Experts have believed their above ground mating swarms launched in different months. That was until University of Florida researcher Thomas Chouvenc noticed something unusual about the termite swarms in his Fort Lauderdale neighborhood two years.

The two species were flying around looking for mates at the same time — and they were looking at each other.

The research is preliminary, but the idea of a hybrid termite carrying the destructive capabilities of two invasive species worries experts.

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