Abstract:
The number of recognized invasive termite species has increased from 17
in 1969 to 28 today. Fourteen species have been added to the list in the
past 44 years; 10 have larger distributions and 4 have no reported change in
distribution, and 3 species are no longer considered invasive. Although most
research has focused on invasive termites in urban areas, molecular identifi-
cation methods have answered questions about certain species and found that
at least six species have invaded natural forest habitats. All invasive species
share three characteristics that together increase the probability of creating
viable propagules: they eat wood, nest in food, and easily generate secondary
reproductives. These characteristics are most common in two families, the
Kalotermitidae and Rhinotermitidae (which make up 21 species on the inva-
sive termite list), particularly in three genera, Cryptotermes, Heterotermes, and
Coptotermes (which together make up 16 species). Although it is the largest
termite family, the Termitidae (comprising 70% of all termite species) have
only two invasive species, because relatively few species have these charac-
teristics. Islands have double the number of invasive species that continents
do, with islands in the South Pacific the most invaded geographical region.
Most invasive species originate from Southeast Asia. The standard control
methods normally used against native pest termites are also employed against
invasive termites; only two eradication attempts, in South Africa and New
Zealand, appear to have been successful, both against Coptotermes species.
