I'm trying to get some more info on termites and how they impact pasture/grasses in the hill country, as it has become a problem here in the last couple of years. I was hoping someone here has experience with this or can point me in the right direction on where to learn more? I'm going to reach out to the NRCS biologist before too long but just hoping to get some intel here.

Main thing I am looking for is:

Are they native or introduced?
What type of stress, i.e, drought or overgrazing, makes the pasture more susceptible?
Is there an effective way to treat them on large chunks of land?
Anything else noteworthy

Not the property owner just doing a little research and hoping to help them.

Fipronil is very effective on termites.

ttha….. might try paging 87Flyfisher if he doesn't see your OP. He is our resident TA entomologist that has great knowledge. Bet he can help you.

Termites = Wood

Pastures = No wood plants

What am I missing?

I have pastures that tree limbs fall in and they get eaten by termites

Termites…. Or leaf cutter ants?

Desert termites
https://www.quailresearch.org/the-ecological-significance-of-desert-termites/

I have seen neither but have been assured it is termites from the owner.

I figured we had someone on here like that so good to know! Thanks for sharing

Reach out to your local Ag Extension Office - should have an entomologist.

All my contacts are probably retired by now and since I'm out of that industry I don't know any that aren't close by me.

To answer your questions though...

If it is the mud tunneling termites...

Native
Drought and overgrazing will exacerbate the issue
No true "broadcast" type methodologies that I know of

Thank you! The overgrazing is what I figured but wasn't sure.

I was trying to figure out why it would be worse in one area but not a problem in the next (even neighboring). I think the overgrazing, in addition to drought is the answer.

It sounds like they're native though and not something that could have hitched a ride into the property, right?

They could certainly have gotten moved onto the property inadvertently - but all adult breeding termites can fly at some point in their life - and it's not like they are from south america/china/africa.

Been seeing increased evidence of desert termites on our property over the past 2-3 years. I'm attributing it to drought conditions. Seems like following the slightest bit of rain they become active and make their dried mud casing on plants in the field.

ETA
https://texasinsects.tamu.edu/desert-termite/

Thanks for sharing! So it is probably safe to say that overgrazing could exacerbate the problem with termites?

It sounds like this isn't something brought in on lumber since they dont even appear to be the same species. I suppose they could've hitched a ride on a vehicle or something but doubt it.

Just trying to get to the bottom of this because it seems to be a localized problem. I think grazing or overgrazing is making things worse but I'm not nearly educated or experienced enough to know.

I'll reach out to biologist to get more info. Thank you for your feedback!

If they're desert termites, there's no need to spray them, they do wonders for soil health.

I guess the temporary inconvenience they cause by affecting grasses is offset by future soil health and plant growth? Seems like this is a common deal and not something overly unique. I am thinking overgrazing may have played a role in this.

I can't speak to how inconvenient it is for the landowner or what problem they're causing, I'm going to assume with the drought they're competing with livestock for forage, but they're really good at nutrient cycling in the soil and their tunnels are good for getting water deeper into the soil.

Financially it doesn't make sense to spray them in a pasture though, there could be millions of them underground that you'd never get to and the first rain would wash away the residual. I don't know hill country statistics but I used to run a pest control company in Lubbock before I got back in wildlife work and up here it's estimated there's a minimum 5 colonies within a quarter mile of any structure. You can't win that fight.