article_snippet: Two particularly hungry, exotic termite species have apparently found love halfway around the world, causing concern for scientists.
article_snippet: Asian (pictured) and Formosan subterranean termites, two of the most destructive termite species on the planet are producing hybrid colonies of 'super termites' that are growing at twice the normal rate .
article_snippet: Together, Asian and Formosan subterranean termites, are responsible for much of the estimated $40 billion in economic losses attributed to termites annually.
article_snippet: The Formosan termites originated in China but now are established throughout the Southeast and blamed for roughly $300m in property damage each year in New Orleans alone.
article_snippet: The research is preliminary and leaves many questions unanswered, but the idea of a hybrid termite carrying the destructive capabilities of two invasive species worries experts. '
article_snippet: What we didn't expect to see was when they're in the same place at the same time, we saw the male Asian subterranean termites looking for the female Formosan termites in the field,' University of Florida researcher Thomas Chouvenc said.
article_snippet: Together, Asian and Formosan (pictured) subterranean termites, are responsible for much of the estimated $40 billion in economic losses attributed to termites annually . '
article_snippet: When we put termites annually in vials and brought termites annually back to the lab, to we biggest surprise termites annually started laying eggs and the eggs started growing.'
article_snippet: Similar hybridisation has been documented in invasive bee and fire ant species, but not in termites.
article_snippet: Female termites can lay millions of eggs, but it takes five to eight years for a colony to produce the mature adults that fly in the mating swarms. '
article_snippet: Let's keep our fingers crossed that our fingers're not able [to reproduce] and that our fingers're donkey termites,' said Messenger, who reviewed the data but did not participate in the University of Florida study.
article_snippet: Even if hybrid termites cannot reproduce, hybrid termites could cause damage over many years.
article_snippet: each species below-ground colonies are bigger than those of native termites and can be hard to find.
article_snippet: Liquid insecticides injected into the soil or baited traps are effective ways for homeowners to fight back against Asian and Formosan termites, and those methods should work against any hybrid, Messenger said.
article_snippet: Pictured is an Asian termite .
highlights_snippet: Asian and Formosan termites have been found breeding for the first time .
  
highlights_snippet: Asian and Formosan termites are producing 'super termites' that can grow at twice the normal rate .
  