Relative occurrence of the family Kalotermitidae (Isoptera) under different termite sampling methods

Abstract

The termite family Kalotermitidae constitutes a wood-nesting termite family that accounts for about 15% of all extant termite species. In recent decades, field studies have been carried out to assess termite diversity in various wooded habitats and geographic locations. Three sampling methods have been favored expert, transect, and alate light-trap surveys. Expert collecting is not spatially quantifiable but relies on field personnel to recognize and sample termite niches. The transect method aims to standardize and quantify termite abundance and diversity. Light trapping is a passive method for sampling nocturnal alate flights. We compared our expert survey results and results of published sampling methods for their proportional yields of kalotermitid versus non-kalotermitid encounters. Using an odds ratio statistic, we found that worldwide, there is about a 50.6-fold greater likelihood of encountering a kalotermitid sample versus a non-kalotermitid using the expert survey method and a 15.3-fold greater likelihood using alate trapping than using the transect method. There is about a 3.3 -fold greater likelihood of collecting a kalotermitid specimen versus a non-kalotermitid sample using the expert survey method than using the alate trap method. Transect studies in which only termite species diversity was reported gave similar low Kalotermitidae yields. We propose that multiple biases in sampling methodology include tools, time constraints, habitat type, geographical location, topographical conditions, and human traits account for the divergent outcomes in sampling the abundance and diversity of Kalotermitidae compared to other termite families.

Roisinitermes ebogoensis gen. & sp. n., an outstanding drywood termite with snapping soldiers from Cameroon (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae)

“…1 m above the ground. Liana stems have been generally overlooked as a colonization site for Kalotermitidae (Scheffrahn et al 2018). In light of Emerson’s 1925 description of Cryptotermescubioceps from a single soldier collected from a dead liana, this host should be probed routinely as a colonization site for kalotermitids.…”

Expanded New World Distributions of Genera in the Termite Family Kalotermitidae

“…The distribution maps (Figs 1-8) are taken from 2,174 unique kalotermitid localities (Fig 1) obtained from expert sampling expeditions (Scheffrahn et al, 2018b) and acquisitions from other collectors housed with the author in the University of Florida Termite Collection (UFTC) located in Davie, Florida. Additional localities were taken from the literature (Table 1).…”

Evaluating the data quality of iNaturalist termite records

“…Citizens have become an important source of geographic information, even in domains that had until recently been the exclusive realm of authoritative agencies [4]. However, because of their cryptic nature and small size, termite specimens retrieved from their substrata or during dispersal flights often require expert knowledge [5], which renders data collection and identification particularly challenging. Previous research has demonstrated that CS adds scientific value to conventional science in various aspects, including greater geographic scales and temporal range, improved field detection, and detection of unusual occurrences [3].…”

“…This is especially true for termites that cannot be collectively collected with traps but require direct acquisition from within the substrata. This involves active search techniques, such as digging, scraping, or probing into soil or nest materials using tools, such as a hatchets [5]. Such expert techniques are most effectively applied by professional team members during diversity surveys or pest identification for control measures, leading to a more comprehensive picture of termite presence than nonexpert sources.…”