Biology of invasive termites: a worldwide review (original) (raw)
Related papers
Invasive Termites Revisited: Coptotermes gestroi meets Coptotermes formosanus
Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) and Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) represent the most widely distributed subterraean termites (Rhinotermitidae) in the world. The wide distribution of C. gestroi has only come to light in the past decade, as numerous junior synonyms for this tropical termite have been resolved. With C. gestroi found in the equatorial zone, and C. formosanus in the subtropics and warm temperate regions, the distributions of these two invasive termites currently overlap in only three locations in the world: Taiwan, Hawaii and Florida. Comparative studies have identified a number of biological and behavioral differences between the two species, such as greater desiccation tolerance in C. formosanus, as well as a possible variation in aggressiveness related to the origin of different C. gestroi populations. The tunneling patterns of C. gestroi and C. formosanus are quite distinct, and appear to reflect both the distribution of woody resources in the ecological zones inhabited by each species and selection of different optimal foraging strategies. Proceedings of the 10th Pacific-Rim Termite Research Group Conference (B. T. Forschler, Ed.). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 26-28 February 2014. PL:1, 7 pp. http://www.prtrg.org
Invasive Termites and Wood Protection
Only about 1% of the 2,750 described termite species in the world are considered to be invasive species, but these 28 key termites create a constant need for research in the protection of wood from termite attack. Invasive termites are readily transported, since they all eat wood, are capable of nesting within their food, and easily produce secondary reproductives. Although Hawaii is the most isolated land mass in the world, it is also considered the invasive species capital of the world, with 24 new insects arriving annually. Seven of the eight termite species found in Hawaii are invasive. Both the subtropical Formosan subterranean termite and the tropical Asian subterranean termite occur in Hawaii, one of only three locations in the world where both are found. Largely due to the long-term presence of the destructive Formosan subterranean termite, Hawaii has led the nation in the adoption of termite prevention practices such as the requirement that all structural lumber in wood frame construction must be preservative-treated. Applied research on termite prevention and wood protection can productively range from simple observations, where all research projects begin, to more complex analysis and synthesis of results, to testing theories to determine the mechanisms behind complex questions. Examples from the author's experience that transgress research borders include examinations of the behavioral mode of action of borate wood preservatives in protecting wood from termite attack, and the relationship between termite tunneling patterns and their efficiency in locating food in the environments in which particular termite species evolved.
Predicting the geographical distribution of two invasive termite species from occurrence data
Predicting the potential habitat of species under both current and future climate change scenarios 34 is crucial for monitoring invasive species and understanding a species' response to different 35 environmental conditions. Frequently, the only data available on a species is the location of its 36 occurrence (presence-only data). Using occurrence records only, two models were used to 37 predict the geographical distribution of two destructive invasive termite species, Coptotermes 38 gestroi (Wasmann) and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. The first model uses a Bayesian linear 39 logistic regression approach adjusted for presence-only data while the second one is the widely 40 used maximum entropy approach (Maxent). Results show that the predicted distributions of both 41 C. gestroi and C. formosanus are strongly linked to urban development. The impact of future 42 scenarios such as climate warming and population growth on the biotic distribution of both 43 termite species was also assessed. Future climate warming seems to affect their projected 44 probability of presence to a lesser extent than population growth. The Bayesian logistic approach 45 outperformed Maxent consistently in all models according to evaluation criteria such as model 46 sensitivity and ecological realism. The importance of further studies for an explicit treatment of 47 residual spatial autocorrelation and a more comprehensive comparison between both statistical 48 approaches is suggested. 49 50 Keywords: Bayesian logistic modeling, Maxent, presence-only data, subterranean termite, 51 species distribution models 52 53 54 55 2005). Such models are often referred to as habitat models, ecological niche models, or species 61 distribution models (SDMs) (Elith and Leathwick 2007) and have been applied to a variety of 62 fields such as ecology, conservation, and biogeography. SDMs attempt to model the species-63 environment relationships by using sites of known occurrence (presence data) and, sometimes, 64 non-occurrence (absence data) together with environmental variables recorded over the whole 65 study area. In most cases, records from atlases, herbaria, or museum databases only contain 66 information on a species' incidental observations (Franklin 2009). A fundamental limitation of 67 presence-only datasets is that the prevalence of a species, i.e. the proportion of occupied sites 68 across the study area, is unknown. In recent years, several statistical methods have been 69 proposed for modeling these types of datasets, such as inhomogeneous Poisson process (IPP), 70 (Warton and Sheperd 2010, Chakraborty et al. 2011), and maximum entropy (Maxent) (Phillips 71 et al. 2004, Phillips et al. 2006). Other approaches use presence-absence models by assuming 72 random samples chosen from the region of interest (background samples) as absences (also 73 called "pseudo-absences") (Elith et al. 2006). However, this assumption has been shown to have 74 substantial problems of model specification, interpretation, and implementation (Warton and 75 Sheperd 2010). 76 In this work, a recently developed Bayesian logistic regression model adjusted for presence-77 only data (Divino et al. 2011, Divino et al. 2013) and the widely used maximum entropy 78 4 approach were used to predict the current and future biotic distributions of two major invasive 79 termite pests within the state of Florida: the Asian subterranean termite (AST), Coptotermes 80 gestroi (Wasmann), and the Formosan subterranean termite (FST), Coptotermes formosanus 81
Subterranean termites in the genus Coptotermes Holmgren are structural pests that have become globally distributed beyond their native range in Southeast Asia. Because of their destructive nature, it is useful to understand the pathways of their spread. Additionally, phylogenetic analysis of evolutionary relationships may lead to increased accuracy of insecticide-based management on the basis that related species are likely to share similar physiology. Cytochrome oxidase II nucleotide sequences were used to construct phylogenies of subterranean termites using both maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood models. The data set included subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae), including C. formosanus Shiraki, and used drywood termites (Kalotermitidae) as putative outgroups. Both methods supported the main results, that Hawaiian infestations likely originated in Asia and that some infestations in North America either came through Hawaii or originated independently from the same ancestral region as the Hawaiian infestations. Coptotermes formosanus, the most significant pest, appears to be paraphyletic with respect to several other species in the genus, and may represent two cryptic species. Other infestations in North America appear to have originated separately in Asia. A phylogeographic hypothesis based on non-molecular information was also supported by these data.
High Exploration Behavior of Termite Propagules Can Enhance Invasiveness
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2022
Social life is usually associated with enhanced propagule pressure, which increases the chance of introducing several individuals during a single introduction event. Social insects are therefore among the most successful invasive species, benefiting from rapid establishment and increased foundation success in new habitats. In termites, propagule pressure may also be increased by the development of reproductive individuals from a small group of foraging workers. This suggests that enhanced exploration activity may increase propagule pressure through an elevated chance of transporting isolated groups of foragers. Here, we analyzed the exploration behavior of three termite species of the Reticulitermes genus, comparing the invasive species Reticulitermes flavipes (testing both native and introduced populations) to the native species Reticulitermes grassei and Reticulitermes lucifugus. Different features representative of the exploration capacity were measured during 48 h, including: th...
Unicoloniality in Reticulitermes urbis: a novel feature in a potentially invasive termite species
Bulletin of Entomological Research, 2009
Social insects are among the world's most successful species at invading of new habitats. A good example of this invasive ability is Reticulitermes (Rhinotermitidae), a prominent group of subterranean termites. As a result of human intervention, i.e. transportation and creation of urban heat islands, Reticulitermes have been able to invade and thrive in cities located in areas where the natural habitat is normally too cold for colonization. They commonly infest man-made structures where they can cause extensive damage.
termites are an important group of insect pests in the tropical Asia Pacific region. Due to the high diversity of termite species in this region, it is common to find several termite pest species co-existing and infesting buildings and structures. In Malaysia and singapore, 12 species of subterranean termites from 7 genera (Coptotermes, Macrotermes, Microtermes, Globitermes, Odontotermes, Schedorhinotermes and Microcerotermes) can be readily found in and around buildings and structures, particularly in suburbia and rural settlements. similar observations with species in the genera Coptotermes, Microcerotermes, Macrotermes, Hypotermes and Odontotermes are also recorded in urban and rural Thailand. termites from 3 to 6 genera (Mastotermes, Coptotermes, Schedorhinotermes, Heterotermes, Nasutitermes and Microcerotermes) may be found co-existing as structural pests in Australia with the highest number of genera in the tropical north of the country. since the introduction of baiting in Malaysia, secondary pest species are more frequently encountered. Following elimination of the principal pest species (Coptotermes spp.) with bait, it is not uncommon to find species from other genera such as Macrotermes and Schedorhinotermes infesting the same building or structure after several months. Most of these species, particularly those belonging to genera such as Macrotermes, Globitermes and Odontotermes from the higher termite (termitidae), however, do not respond well to baits with paper-based matrices. Options for managing multiple genera termite pest faunas in the tropics are discussed.
Foraging choice and replacement reproductives facilitate invasiveness in drywood termites
Biological Invasions
All highly cryptic drywood termites derive their food and water from a single piece of wood. Despite the fact that most species share the same life cycles, only a few have become invasive tramp species. Variation in production of replacement reproductives and food size choice were determined for nine species of the important drywood genus Cryptotermes in a test with two different sized wooden blocks. Four native, non-pest species produced one or two reproductives, gnawed short tunnels and chose large blocks; four tramp pest species produced three or four reproductives, gnawed long tunnels and two species chose small blocks whereas the other two species chose both blocks; the ninth species, a native pest, was similar to tramp species. Longer tunnels and more replacement reproductives corresponded with pest status, acceptance of small blocks with tramp status. Although counter-intuitive, the foraging acceptance or preference for small blocks of wood corresponds with higher propagule pressure and an increased chance of (unwitting) human assisted transport, and therefore may be an important factor in determining tramp status of drywood termite species.
New Zealand Plant Protection
Termites belong to the infraorder Isoptera, which contains almost 3,000 described species worldwide. These social insects cause substantial damage globally leading to billions of dollars of losses annually. Damage can occur to timber, wooden goods, paper, cotton, certain plastics, trees and many crops. Consequently, termite control and management is a major sector in the global pest-control industry. However, economic losses due to termite damage have not been quantified in the Fiji Islands to date. A review of published literature was conducted to assess the geographic range of Asian subterranean termites that occur in the Fiji Islands and to identify existing and potential control measures. The most common termite species that is known to cause millions of dollars of damage each year in the Fiji Islands is Coptotermes gestroi. This species is currently controlled primarily using the chemical fipronil but integrated termite management is the preferred long-term solution. Other poss...