Coptotermes formosanus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
The Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus) is a species of termite local to southern China and introduced to Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa, where it gets its name), Japan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, and the continental United States.
The Formosan termite is often nicknamed the super-termite because of its destructive habits due to the large size of its colonies and its ability to consume wood at a rapid rate. Populations of these termites have become large enough to appear on New Orleans' weather radars.
A mature Formosan colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood a day (about 400 g) and can severely damage a structure in as little as three months. Formosan termites infest a wide variety of structures (including boats and high-rise condominiums) and can damage trees. In the United States, along with another species, Coptotermes gestroi, introduced from Southeast Asia, they are responsible for tremendous damage to property resulting in large treatment and repair costs.
Coptotermes formosanus is a social insect. Crops include sugarcane. Formosan termites... Wikipedia →
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More parks will be added in future updates.
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Formosan Subterranean Termite sighting in Guangzhou on a given day, based on 8 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 329th most-seen of the 482 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May–June and September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Formosan Subterranean Termite in Guangzhou on a given day, against under 5% in July–August and October–April, the lowest months. Those are among Guangzhou's wettest months, with about 260 mm of rain a month against 30 mm in December.
Among the best
Of the 5 cities where we can rate Formosan Subterranean Termite sightings, Guangzhou ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Shanghai (China, under 5%).
Same order: Blattodea
The closest relatives of the Formosan Subterranean Termite that you can see in Guangzhou (order Blattodea, Cockroaches and Termites) are Amphibious Litter Cockroach (about 10%), American Cockroach (about 10%) and Indian Cockroach (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Formosan Subterranean Termite is recorded against all the insects logged in Guangzhou (8 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
