Endemic origin and vast anthropogenic dispersal of the West Indian drywood termite

Abstract

Cryptotermes brevis is a common pest of structural lumber and sheltered wood in much of the non-Asian tropics. Until now, no endemic locality, as confirmed by regenerating outdoor populations, was known. A termite survey of the northern coastal desert of Chile and the vicinity of Lima, Peru, yielded 61 outdoor populations of C. brevis taken from 23 different native and exotic species of host woods at 19 localities. We review the taxonomic and biogeographic history of C. brevis and suggest climatic and biological factors that favor or limit C. brevis distribution. We also propose a scenario implicating a post-Colombian release of C. brevis by shipboard infestations and the movement of infested wood during the early Spanish Empire to the present time.

NEW DISTRIBUTION RECORD OF Cryptotermes brevis (ISOPTERA, KALOTERMITIDAE) IN ARGENTINA

“…The continuous domestic trade using this kind of crates could have facilitated the arrival of C. brevis colonies to Corrientes. Similar processes seemed to occur in other countries as most of the current distribution of C. brevis corresponds to human introductions by transportation of wood products (Scheffrahn et al, 2009;Nunes et al, 2010). The climatic conditions of Corrientes city (annual rainfall: 127.3 cm, mean annual temperature: 21 ºC with a range between 16-26 ºC and mean annual dew point: 15 ºC), with a TDP ratio of 2.27 (Weatherbase, 2011), can be considered as included among the optimum TDP values for the establishment and dispersal flight activities of C. brevis, according to Scheffrahn et al, 2009.…”

“…This termite has been recorded in most South American countries (Scheffrahn and Krecek, 1999;Scheffrahn et al, 2009). In Brazil, C. brevis is established in the major cities, causing significant damage to structural lumber, furniture, libraries and historical wood pieces (Fontes, 1995;Bandeira et al, 1998, Milano andFontes, 2002).…”

“…Cryptotermes brevis is a synanthropic species probably originated from the Pacific coastal desert of Chile and Peru (Scheffrahn et al, 2009), is the most widespread drywood termite in the tropics and subtropics worldwide, and is also considered as one of the most destructive structural pests (Bacchus, 1987;Scheffrahn and Krecek, 1999;Constantino, 2002;Milano and Fontes, 2002;Scheffrahn et al, 2003;Evans, 2011). This termite has been recorded in most South American countries (Scheffrahn and Krecek, 1999;Scheffrahn et al, 2009).…”

“…In Argentina, the only record of damage caused by this insect to wood products was reported by Torales et al, 2005, in a wardrobe located in Buenos Aires. Cryptotermes brevis is widely distributed in the New World, including Australia, Africa, Northern Europe and most of the inhabited tropical oceanic islands (Scheffrahn et al, 2009).…”

“…The specimens were collected from the wood pieces and fixed in 80 % alcohol. For determination of the material collected we used relevant literature (Bacchus, 1987;Scheffrahn and Krecek, 1999;Scheffrahn et al, 2009) The damage was almost unnoticable from the external view, only small rounded holes were visible. Inside the partially hollowed pieces, there were simple nests consisting of galleries and chambers occupied by the termites and their fecal pellets or debris (Fig.…”