Termites in Canada Humble 2008 Occurrence of Drywood Termites in Canada Dr. L.M Humble Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service 506 West Burnside Road. Victoria, BC, Canada V8Z 1M5 [email protected] This review of the occurrence of termites in Canada has been prompted by recent concerns regarding the potential of drywood termites, specifically Incisitermes minor (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) to infest Canadian wood products. This summary reviews the known distribution of termites in Canada. Occurrence of Icisitermes minor (Hagen) in Canada Grace et al. (1991) reported the occurrence of Incisitermes minor in a building in Toronto, Otario. Grace et al. (1991) noted that this infestation was eradicated using methyl bromide. Myles (1995) further states that infestations of other drywood termites (Cryptotermes spp.) have also been eradicated after they have been discovered. Thus Incisitermes is not known to be established in Canada. Incisitermes minor is endemic to California, Arizona, and Mexico, but has been introduced to many areas in the southern United States, in most cases, inside furniture (Messenger et al. 2002). It is now known to occur in Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi and Georgia (Messenger et al. 2000, 2002; Scheffrahn & Su 1994; Scheffrahn et al. 2001). Additional records for the US can be found at the following URL (accessed 17 Mar. 2008: http://www.termitesurvey.com/distribution/incisitermes_minor.shtml. Other Termites in Canada Two families of termites, the rottenwood (a.k.a. dampwood) termites (Termopsidae) with two species in the genus Zootermopsis, and the subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae) with two species in the genus Reticulitermes occuring in Canada (see the following URL accessed 17 Mar. 2008 - http://www.utoronto.ca/forest/termite/na-dist.htm). Subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae) nest within soil, thus generally only infest wood in direct contact with the soil. Wood not in contact with the soil may be fed upon. In such instances the termites build shelter tubes to move between the colonies living in the soil and the wood above the ground. Colonies are not formed in wood above the ground. Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), the eastern subterranean termite, is found in the southernmost parts of Ontario, while Reticulitermes hesperus, the western subterranean termite, is found on southern Vancouver Island, the south coastal mainland and the interior dry valleys of British Columbia. The distribution of the former species in the US can be found at http://www.termitesurvey.com/distribution/reticulitermes_flavipes.shtml while that for R. hesperus can be found at http://www.termitesurvey.com/distribution/reticulitermes_hesperus.shtml. 1 Termites in Canada Humble 2008 Neither of these species form colonies in wood above ground. It is possible that reproductive adults could be found in association with lumber if it was stored in close proximity to forest stands from which adult flight occurred. Reticulitermes are the common subterranean pest termites of Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, China, Korea and Japan (Uva et al. 2004; Myles undated - http://www.utoronto.ca/forest/termite/Reticdis.htm). Two species of rottenwood termites are known to occur in Canada, Zootermopsis angusticollis and Z. nevadensis. They nest in wet rotten wood creating large meandering galleries. Like Reticulitermes, they would only be found in association with exported lumber if it was exposed near forest margins during the flight of reproductives. Zootermopsis angusticollis has apparently been introduced and long established in Japan (Esaki 1937; Suzuki 2000; Ohmura and Tokoro 2003). Thus there will be a real concern regarding introduced termites in that country. There are no references to damage caused by Z. angusticollis, while there are many attributed to the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), as well as references to two other species introduced from North America (Incisitermes minor and Incisitermes immigrans (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)). References Esaki, T. 1937. The large termite Zootermopsis angusticollis (Hagen) introduced from Oregon, USA to Japan. Japanese journal of Entomology 11(5): 344-346. Grace, J. K., G. M. Cutten, R. H. Scheffrahn and D. K. M. Kevan. 1991. First infestation by Incisitermes minor of a Canadian building (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae).Sociobiology 18: 299-304. Messenger, MT, RH Scheffrahn, and N.-Y. Su. 2000. First report of Incisitermes minor (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) in Louisiana. Florida Entomol. 83: 92-93. Messenger, MT, Su, N-Y, and RH Scheffrahn. 2002 Current distribution of the Formosan Subterranean termite and other termite species (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae, Kalotermitidae) in Louisiana. Florida Entomologist 85(4): 580- 587. Myles, TG. 1995. New records of drywood termite introduction, interception and extirpation in Ontario.Proc. ent. Soc. Ont. 126: 77-83. Ohmura, W. and M. Tokoro (2003) Termite species invaded Japan, Forest Science, 38:7- 9. Scheffrahn, R. H.and N.-Y. Su. 1994. Keys to Soldier and Winged Adult Termites (Isoptera) of Florida. The Florida Entomologist, 77(4): 460-474. Scheffrahn, R. H., N.-Y. Su, J. A. Chase, and B. T. Forschler. 2001. New termite (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae) records from Georgia. J. Entomol. Sci. 36: 109-113. 2 Termites in Canada Humble 2008 Suzuki, H. 2000. Notes on the American Common Damp-wood Termite, Zootermopsis angusticollis (HAGEN), Found in Kawanishi City, Hyogo, Prefecture. House and Household Insect Pests 21(2): 137-144. Uvaa, P., J-L Clément, JW Austin, J Aubert, V Zaffagnini, A Quintana and A-G Bagnères. 2004. Origin of a new Reticulitermes termite (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA data . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 30(2): 344-353. 3 Termites in Canada Humble 2008 Other publications: Title; Infestation and Control Strategies of Incisitermes minor (Hagen) in Japan Author; YOSHIMURA TSUYOSHI(Kyoto Univ., Res. Inst. Sustainable Humanosphere, JPN) INDRAYANI YULIATI(Kyoto Univ., Res. Inst. Sustainable Humanosphere, JPN) Journal Title; House and Household Insect Pests VOL.28; NO.1;PAGE.37-45(2006) Abstract; Infestation and control strategies of Incisitermes minor (Hagen) in Japan is reviewed with new laboratory experimental data on its feeding ecology. Recent research surveys clearly show that I.minor infestation is distributed all through Japan with at least several thousands of attacked houses. The majority of the infestation is found in the upper parts of the houses, indicating that the conventional control strategies for subterranean termites in Japan, such as Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus, are not applicable to this termite. Feeding behavior, wood preference and environmental preference of I.minor are significantly different from those of subterranean termites. To eliminate the infestation by this exotic pest species in Japan, strong and concentrated collaborations are needed among administrations, research institutions, formulators, and termite control professionals. (author abst.) Title: A case study of Incisitermes minor (Isoptera:Kalotermitidae) infestation in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan Authors: INDRAYANI Yuliati ; YOSHIMURA Tsuyoshi ; FUJII Yoshihisa ; YANASE Yoshiyuki ; FUJIWARA Yuko ; ADACHI Akio ; KAWAGUCHI Seima ; MIURA Masahiro ; IMAMURA Yuji ; Abstract: A survey on infestation by Incisitermes minor (Hagen) in a town in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, was conducted in 19 buildings. Approximately 90% of the surveyed buildings were infested by I. minor. The infested buildings were located in one area within a 5-15 m distance of each other. The main source of multiple infestations in this area appeared to be natural spread via alate flight. Roofing materials such as rafters, eaves, gables, boards, and beams were the most susceptible parts. Interior materials such as pillars, window and door frames, thresholds, lintels, floor boards, and tatami, and exterior materials such as wall boards, beams, braces, window frames, and thresholds were the second-most frequently attacked parts. 4.