Not just urban: The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, is invading forests in the Southeastern USA

Evans, Theodore A.; Forschler, Brian T.; Trettin, Carl C.

doi:10.1007/s10530-018-1899-5

Cited by 19 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Suszkiw (2000) estimated that the annual repair and control cost of this pest was ∼1 billion dollars in the United States. C. formosanus damages not only wooden structures, but also live plants (Lai et al, 1983;Evans, Forschler & Trettin, 2019). Lai et al (1983) reported that C. formosanus usually consumed the xylem, tree vascular tissue that transports water with dissolved minerals from the roots to stems and leaves and provides physical support as well.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impacts of C. formosanus on forests had been largely ignored in the past but have received some attention in recent years. For example , Evans, Forschler & Trettin (2019) reported that 38% experimental patches of forests around Charleston (South Carolina, USA) and 42% patches around New Orleans (Louisiana, USA) were infested by C. formosanus, which caused significantly more and larger tree hollows compared with patches without termite infestation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Jin

Chen

Wen

et al. 2020

PeerJ

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Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, usually transport clay materials into tree hollows and bait stations. Our previous research showed that C. formosanus preferred to aggregate in the locations containing field-collected clay samples, but it was not clear whether this preference was influenced by clay types and/or moisture. In the present study, we conducted multiple-choice tests under low-moisture (25% moisture) or moderate-moisture (50% moisture) conditions to evaluate the aggregation and wood-feeding preferences of C. formosanus responding to hollow wooden cylinders (simulation of tree hollows) or baiting containers (simulation of bait stations) filled with different clay materials (bentonite , kaolin, chlorite, illite, or attapulgite), soil, or unfilled. Under low-moisture conditions, the majority of termites were found in the wooden cylinders or baiting containers filled with bentonite. Under moderate-moisture conditions, however, termites preferred to aggregate in wooden cylinders filled with chlorite or attapulgite; the percentages of termites that stayed in baiting containers filled with chlorite, attapulgite or soil were similar, which were significantly higher than those that filled with kaolin, illite, or unfilled. We then conducted no-choice tests to study the effect of clay materials on termites. Under low-moisture conditions, clay filled in the baiting containers significantly increased survivorship and body water percentage (an indicator of termite vigor) of termites, whereas no similar effect was detected under moderate-moisture conditions. This study demonstrated that both clay type and moisture affect termites’ preference.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Jin

Chen

Wen

et al. 2020

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Suszkiw (2000) estimated that the annual repair and control cost of this pest was ~ 1 billion dollars in the United States. C. formosanus damages not only wooden structures, but also live plants (Lai et al, 1983;Evans et al, 2019). Lai et al (1983) reported that C. formosanus usually consumed the…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The impacts of C. formosanus on forests had been largely ignored in the past but have received some attention in recent years. For example, Evans et al (2019) reported that 38% experimental patches of forests around Charleston (South Carolina, USA) and 42% patches around New Orleans (Louisiana, USA) were infested by C. formosanus, which caused significantly more and larger tree hollows compared with patches without termite infestation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #1 of "Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) (v0.1)"

2020

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Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki , usually transport clay materials into tree hollows and bait stations. Our previous research showed that C. formosanus preferred to aggregate in the locations containing field-collected clay samples, but it was not clear whether this preference was influenced by clay types and/or moisture. In the present study, we conducted multiple-choice tests under low-moisture (25% moisture) or moderate-moisture (50% moisture) conditions to evaluate the aggregation and wood-feeding preferences of C. formosanus responding to hollow wooden cylinders (simulation of tree hollows) or baiting containers (simulation of bait stations) filled with different clay materials (bentonite , kaolin, chlorite, illite, or attapulgite), soil, or unfilled. Under low-moisture conditions, the majority of termites were found in the wooden cylinders or baiting containers filled with bentonite. Under moderate-moisture conditions, however, termites preferred to aggregate in wooden cylinders filled with chlorite or attapulgite; the percentages of termites that stayed in baiting containers filled with chlorite, attapulgite or soil were similar, which were significantly higher than those that filled with kaolin, illite, or unfilled. We then conducted no-choice tests to study the effect of clay materials on termites. Under low-moisture conditions, clay filled in the baiting containers significantly increased survivorship and body water percentage (an indicator of termite vigor) of termites, whereas no similar effect was detected under moderatemoisture conditions. This study demonstrated that both clay type and moisture affect termites' preference.

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“…Unlike many other subterranean termites, C. formosanus can also attack live trees. A recent study conducted by Evans et al [6] showed that large proportions of forests in South Carolina and Louisiana have been infested by C. formosanus, which may have resulted in the death of the trees. Since C. formosanus is more likely to attack some tree species (e.g., bitternut hickory, bald cypress, blackgum and sweetgum in Louisiana) than others, it may change the community structure in forests [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Super Absorbent Polymers Buried within Dry Soil Attract Formosan Subterranean Termites (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Xie

Jin

Lin³

et al. 2019

Forests

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Baiting is one of the main methods to control subterranean termites. Many previous studies showed that subterranean termites avoid making tunnels within dry soil and feeding on dry wood, which may decrease bait infestation and consumption in drought areas. Super absorbent polymers are a group of materials that can retain large amounts of water and improve the moisture content of soil and bait matrices, and therefore may attract termites. In the present study, choice tests were conducted in the laboratory to investigate the aggregation and feeding behaviors of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, in response to the three super absorbent polymers-sodium polyacrylate (Na-PAM), potassium polyacrylate (K-PAM), and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) potassium salt (P(AM/AA))-that were either placed within soil or filled in the void volume of baiting containers. Under dry-soil (30%-moisture) conditions, termites consumed significantly more wood in the chambers where super absorbent polymers were buried than in the control chambers (super absorbent polymer was not placed within soil). In addition, Na-PAM placed within dry soil significantly increased termite aggregation compared with the control chambers. However, no aggregation or feeding preference was detected when super absorbent polymers were placed within wet soil (60%-moisture). Also, filling super absorbent polymers into the void volume of baiting containers did not attract termites, whether the soil was dry or wet. Our study showed that placing super absorbent polymers within soil around bait stations may increase bait consumption by subterranean termites in drought locations.

show abstract

Not just urban: The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, is invading forests in the Southeastern USA

Cited by 19 publications

References 60 publications

Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite,Coptotermes formosanusShiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Peer Review #1 of "Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) (v0.1)"

Super Absorbent Polymers Buried within Dry Soil Attract Formosan Subterranean Termites (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

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