Rodney Dorn had never seen one of these before.

The Modern Exterminating inspector was running a routine termite check at a Lexington County home when he found the colony.

He took them to Dr. Eric Benson, an entomology professor at Clemson.

Benson confirmed it was a Formosan subterranean termite – a “super termite.”

“Formosan termites colonies can be larger,” Benson said. “Not that the termites are more powerful. The only way these termites can do more damage is if they are in a larger colony.”

Benson said one on one these termites eat at the same pace but the number of them can differ. The Formosan termites are large in numbers. That can cause more damage faster.

They also nest higher up inside a building’s walls.

Glen Matthews of Modern Exterminating said he thinks they will spread quickly.

“They’re going to establish more colonies and they’re going to infest more houses,” he said.

Finding Formosan termite nests can be difficult. Some home owners may go years without knowing they have a termite problem.