Scientific Notes 201

DISTRIBUTION OF THE (ISOPTERA: ) IN FLORIDA

RUDOLF H. SCHEFFRAHN AND NAN-YAO SU University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Department of Entomology and Nematology, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center 3205 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, U.S.A.

Two non-endemic and highly destructive spe- communications but no voucher specimens, cies of Coptotermes Wasmann occur in Florida. In Woodson et al. (2001) added Okaloosa, Hillsbor- 1980, the Formosan subterranean termite, Copto- ough, Santa Rosa, Palm Beach, Marin, Citrus, termes formosanus Shiraki, was first discovered and Leon as additional Florida counties where in Florida infesting condominiums along the C. formosanus is distributed. Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway in The Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes Broward County (Anonymous 1980; Koehler 1980). gestroi (Wasmann), was first discovered in Florida Later, C. formosanus was found in neighboring in 1996 infesting a storefront in Miami (Su et al. Dade Co. and in central Florida (Orange Co.) and 1997). Originally classified as C. havilandi in the western Panhandle (Escambia Co.) (Thomp- Holmgren, this was recently synonymized son 1985). A 1987 survey of structure-infesting with C. gestroi by Kirton & Brown (2003). Since of Florida (Scheffrahn et al. 1988) 1996, no additional reports have been published showed a low incidence of C. formosanus in urban on the distribution of C. gestroi in Florida. Copto- areas of the peninsula compared with other pest termes formosanus and C. gestroi can be differen- species. Based on published reports and personal tiated from each other by soldier (Scheffrahn et al.

Fig. 1. Distribution of Coptotermes formosanus and C. gestroi in Florida. Inset on left shows greater detail of the southeast coast. Grey areas represent urbanized land zones.

202 Florida Entomologist 88(2) June 2005

1990) and imago (Scheffrahn & Su 2000) morphol- TABLE 1. DISTRIBUTION OF COPTOTERMES IN FLORIDA BY ogy. Both species separate into different clades COUNTY, CITY, AND YEAR RECORDED. when sequences of their respective mtDNA 16s RNA genes are compared (Scheffrahn et al. 2004). County City Year Over the last 19 years, we have directly col- lected or have received more than 3,000 termite Coptotermes formosanus colony samples from throughout Florida includ- ing those of the two now well established Copto- Broward Dania Beach 2001 termes species. We herein report on the current Fort Lauderdale distribution of Coptotermes in Florida based on Hallandale 1980 locality records of 168 C. formosanus and 35 Hillsborough Beach1 2000 C. gestroi samples. All samples are cataloged and Hollywood 1994 housed in the University of Florida Termite Col- Lighthouse Point1 1998 lection, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Pembroke Pines 2002 Center, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Pompano Beach1 2001 The geographical distribution of Coptotermes Wilton Manors 2002 in Florida, including incidences where these spe- Citrus Crystal River 1999 cies have been collected aboard boats or ships, is Collier Marco Island 2003 mapped in Fig. 1. Most urban centers throughout Dade Florida City 2002 Florida, with the exception of Pinellas Co. (St. Miami 2004 Petersburg), now support populations of C. formo- North Miami Beach 1999 sanus. Coptotermes localities in Florida are listed Duval Jacksonville2 2004 in Table 1 by county, city, and year of discovery. Escambia Pensacola 1985 Including shipborne infestations, C. formosanus Warrington 1989 has been collected from 20 counties and 40 cities Hillsborough Tampa 1996 in Florida, while C. gestroi has been collected in Temple Terrance 1991 4 counties and 8 cities (Table 1). All populations Lee Bonita Springs 2003 of C. gestroi are currently restricted to tropical Cape Coral 2004 southeastern Florida. Dade and Broward Coun- Leon Tallahassee 2000 ties, Florida, are the only geographies worldwide Manatee Holms Beach1 2002 where these two species have sympatric distribu- Marion Ocala 2003 tions. Both species are exclusively synanthropic Martin Jensen Beach 1998 in Florida and have only been collected in or Monroe Islamorada1 1986 within foraging distance of a structure. Okaloosa Niceville 2001 The tendency of both C. formosanus and Orange Orlando 1985 C. gestroi to colonize boats (<40-m-long) and ships Palm Beach Boca Raton 2003 (>100-m-long) likely contributed to the dispersal Hypoluxo1 1985 of these and other Coptotermes species from their Jupiter 1999 other ranges to exotic localities, such as Florida Lake Park 2001 (Scheffrahn et al. 2004). Colonies have been ob- North Palm Beach 1996 served reaching maturity aboard watercraft and Palm Beach Gardens 2000 dispersal flights from watercraft could initiate Riviera Beach 1999 land-based infestations near dockage. West Palm Beach 1999 One particular infestation is worth reporting Pasco Trinity 2003 here because it provides compelling evidence for Putnam Interlachen 2004 shipboard establishment and movement of Copto- Santa Rosa Milton 1991 termes colonies over long distances. In January Volusia Debary 2003 2001, a 29 meter-long yacht docked off the Intra- coastal Waterway in Ft. Lauderdale was found to be infested with C. gestroi. Since 1993, the yacht’s Broward Fort Lauderdale1 2001 winter dockage was at the Turtle Cove Marina in Lauderhill 2002 Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Dade Hialeah 2004 West Indies. Providenciales is some 930 km Miami 1996 southeast of Ft. Lauderdale. Coptotermes gestroi Miami Beach 2002 was first collected in the Turks and Caicos at Tur- Monroe Key West 1999 tle Cove in 1990 (R. Scheffrahn, unpubl.). It is Stock Island 2004 very probable that during one or more preceding St. Lucie Fort Pierce1 1991 winters in Providenciales, lighting on the yacht attracted alates during a nocturnal dispersal 1Collected from boat only. flight in the Turtle Cove vicinity (C. gestroi dis- 2Collected previously from ship in 1999. persal flights in Florida and the West Indies occur

Scientific Notes 203

at night from January to March). Dealates then REFERENCES CITED proceeded to colonize the boat. At least one colony became established on board and subsequently ANONYMOUS. 1980. Formosan termites now in Florida. grew until the infestation was detected and the Pest Control Magazine, November: 20, 113. boat fumigated in Ft. Lauderdale before return- KIRTON, L. G., AND V. K BROWN. 2003. The taxonomic ing to Providenciales. status of pest species of Coptotermes in Southeast It is likely that shipboard infestations will con- Asia: Resolving the paradox in the pest status of the termites, Coptotermes gestroi, C. havilandi and tinue to contribute to the intrastate spread of C. travians (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiol- Coptotermes in Florida, where the overwhelming ogy 42: 43-63. number of infestations are within one kilometer KOEHLER, P. G. 1980. The Formosan subterranean ter- of marine boat dockage. Eighteen C. formosanus mite. Florida Coop. Ext. Service, Univ. Florida Inst. and 3 C. gestroi samples in our collection data- Food Agric. Sci. circular ENT-51. base were taken aboard boats and ships. In SCHEFFRAHN, R. H., AND N.-Y. SU. 2000. Asian subter- inland locations, such as the Orlando and Talla- ranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (= havilandi) hassee areas, land-based commodities such as (Wasmann) (Insecta: Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). railroad ties and landscape materials harboring 2000. Retrieved 13 October 2004 from University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology incipient colonies may have served as vehicles of “Featured Creature” Web site: http://creatures.ifas. introduction. ufl.edu/urban/termites/havilandi.htm We thank the many pest control professionals SCHEFFRAHN, R., J. R. MANGOLD, AND N.-Y. SU. 1988. A and others that have collected and submitted survey of structure-infesting termites of peninsular samples that were included herein, including Florida. Florida Entomol. 71: 615-630. Paul Ban, Bob Benham, Ron Box, Lyle Buss, Gabe SCHEFFRAHN, R. H., N.-Y. SU, AND B. DIEHL. 1990. Na- Centeno, Jim Chase, Mary Cohen, Bruce and Jeff tive, introduced, and structure-infesting termites of Edwards, Louis Giacone, Terry Harper, Jim the Turks and Caicos Islands, B.W.I. Florida Ento- Maler, John Mangold, Bruce Ryser, Jeff Stotts, mol. 73: 622-627. SCHEFFRAHN, R. H., J. KRECEK, B. MAHARAJH, N.-Y. SU, and Mark Weinberg. William H. Kern Jr. and J. A. CHASE, J. R. MANGOLD, A. L. SZALANSKI, J. W. Brian J. Cabrera reviewed this contribution R- AUSTIN, AND J. NIXON. 2004. Establishment of the 10474 of the University of Florida Agricultural African termite, Coptotermes sjostedti (Isoptera: Experiment Station Journal Series. Rhinotermitidae), on the Island of Guadeloupe, French West Indies. Ann. Entomol. Soc. America 97: 872-876. SUMMARY SU, N.-Y., R. H. SCHEFFRAHN, AND T. WEISSLING. 1997. Confirmed Florida localities of the Formosan A new introduction of a subterranean termite, Copto- subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, termes havilandi Holmgren (Isoptera: Rhinotermiti- dae) in Miami, Florida. Florida Entomol. 80: 408-411. and the Asian subterranean termite, C. gestroi, THOMPSON, C. R. 1985. Detection and distribution of are reported. Coptotermes formosanus has been Formosan termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in collected from 20 counties and 40 cities in Florida, southeastern Florida. J. Econ. Entomol.78: 528-530. while C. gestroi has been collected in 4 counties WOODSON, W. D., B. A. WILTZ, AND A. R. LAX. 2001. Cur- and 8 cities. Dispersal of both Coptotermes species rent distribution of the Formosan subterranean ter- have been facilitated by shipboard infestations mite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in the United and land-based commodities. States.Sociobiology 37: 661-671.