Out of Zone Star Fruit and Termites

We have 2 potted Starfruit Trees I started from store saved seed earlier this year, it is getting cold enough we need to bring them in but both have termites in their pots. The thing is out pots are clustered and no other plants that where around them, mangos avocados, ginger, pineapple, apples, peaches, willow and annuals seem to have them.  I can't imagine its a natural adaptation as I am pretty sure no termites in Zone 6B has ever come across a Star fruit tree in the wild..  Does anyone know if there is something about Starfruit trees that would be attracting the termites to those plants specifically? Also it appears the termites are eating the leaves as well? We already tried flushing the pots with extra strength mint tea, but they seems unperturbed by it. I can transplant them into clean soil etc... but as these plants would eventually end up in ground in a dug in greenhouse with other plants if something about them specifically is going to keep attracting termites its not worth it honestly, since I know pest like that can pretty easily get out of control.

Are you sure they are termites? The termites we have only eat rotten wood and are found when old wood is touching dirt or another piece of wood.

Can you post a picture of them?

Google tells me that there are some types of termite in the American south that will munch on or under the bark of living trees. They are primarily attracted to palm trees and sometimes citrus. But they still prefer dead, rotted wood; healthy trees are generally not at risk. Or so Google says... 🤷

I am with Jenny.  I can't imagine termites eating leaves.

Can you post a picture?

Guess, I was wrong:

How do I get rid of termites eating my plants?

Fungi spores can also act as repellents. Neem seed kernel extracts (NSKE) have been used against termites on trees and on field crops with good results. Another solution is to pour wood ash or pounded Neem leaves or seeds into the holes dig by the termites in order to repel termites

plantix .net

How do you get rid of termites in a potted plant?
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Pretty much everyone has cayenne pepper or white vinegar in their home. Just mix them with water or lemon juice and then spray the mixture on the potted plants for a few days. Soon enough, all the termites will be dead.

termiteboys .com

Here are the photos of the pest. I haven't actually scene them eating the leaves but those plants where the only plants in the room with chewed up leaves, and the only plants with termites in the soil... Though we have only observed them coming from the bottom of the pot and have scene no sign of them on top of the soil, they are spilling out of the drainage holes

they sure look like termites. sorry, don’t have an answer for you.

Yeah definitely termites.

Maybe kill off the termites in the pot and protect the plant until it is older and sturdier. Once it's larger, hopefully it will be able to withstand their predation.

Sorry you are dealing with such a weird problem! Sometimes growing more unusual plants means less predator pressure but it looks like you have the opposite issue.

I must sadly report, the star fruit trees died. We resorted to root washing and re-poting, but it was to much for them. Guess I will try again next year on the new property with an eye towards protecting their soil.