Researchers have stated that two of the most damaging termite species are mating in South Florida. By doing so, they have produced hybrid termite colonies, and have developed at twice the normal rate of other termites.

According to the researchers from the University of Florida, the Asian subterranean termites and the Formosan subterranean termites have been interbreeding between mating seasons in Florida.

In many areas of the world, these species are invasive species and they damage many local climates and habitats outside their native lands of East Asia.

The lead author of the study Nan-Yao Su, professor at the Entomology Department of University of Florida, said, "Formosan and Asian termites together are the reason behind much of the estimated $40 billion termite damage globally. Their hybrid offspring might raise the loss considerably. It means within a shorter period of time homeowners will see the damage".

According to the researchers, climate change is responsible for the interbreeding of the termites. They said so because Asian and Formosan termites were used to live in different regions and swarm at different times. However, both the swarming season and the territory of each species had grown to overlap, by 2013.

Researchers have found that Asian male termites prefer Formosan females, and their colonies have around 160 individuals within a year as against 60 in a single-species colony.

On the other hand, the researchers have added that no matter the hybrid offspring are sterile or fertile they can't be identified till the colonies reach around five years of age, when new kings and queens start reproducing normally.

As per the researchers, if the termites manage to reproduce then the hybrid termites might carry the invasive features of their parent species and can spread outside Florida.