The Australian dampwood termite <i>Porotermes adamsoni</i> in New Zealand

Abstract

Porotermes adamsoni (Australian dampwood termite) has been intercepted on infested timber of Australian origin at ports in New Zealand on numerous occasions Porotermes adamsoni attacks dead and living trees (principally Eucalyptus species) There are three known extant colonies of P adamsoni in New Zealand Lyttelton in Canterbury and Kaipara Flats and Newmarket in Auckland Surveillance operations to delimit the extent of the termite incursion at Kaipara Flats and Newmarket are outlined Biosecurity considerations are discussed

Investigation of biosecurity risk organisms for the plant and environment domains in New Zealand for 2008 and 2009

“…In the present paper, of the 57 organisms where residual risk remained following assessment and mitigation, only 30 were found without a recent import pathway and were therefore similar to the description of a new pest in Kriticos et al (2005). Of these 30 risk organisms, 2 genetically modified plant incursions were eradicated, 1 weed is under eradication, 1 weed is currently under control, 2 further weeds are being dealt with under the National plant pest accord, 1 termite incursion is successfully being eradicated and another 1 is under control (Pearson et al 2010). This gives 4/30 on track for eradication, a percentage of 13.3%, which is significantly higher than that estimated by Kriticos et al (2005).…”

Overview of the Morphology of Neotropical Termite Workers: History and Practice

“…Left mandible with conspicuous incision between fused first plus second (M1+2) and third marginal teeth (M3) ( Fig 10, thick arrow); mesenteric tongue, if present, located on concave face of mesenteric arch, first proctodeal segment long and tubular, forming loop between rectum and paunch in ventral view... Termitidae: Apicotermitinae 7b. Left mandible variable, but without incision between M1+2 and M3 (Fig 11, 12); mesenteric tongue, if present, located on convex face of mesenteric arch, first proctodeal segment not forming loop between rectum and paunch in ventral view (Cylindrotermes workers have a ventral loop, but the other characters differ from Apicotermitinae)... Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae, Syntermitinae, and Termitinae Porotermes has three extant damp-wood species: P. adamsoni, native to coastal and adjacent highland areas from southern Queensland to South Australia, and considered an invasive termite in New Zealand (Pearson et al, 2010); P. planiceps, from the western Cape region of South Africa (Coaton & Sheasby, 1976); and Porotermes quadricollis, in southern Chile and Argentina (Camousseight & Vera, 2005;Torales et al, 2005). Villan (1972) redescribed Porotermes, with new diagnoses and a key to the three species, for imagoes, soldiers, and pseudergates.…”