Biology and Management of the Formosan Subterranean Termite and Related Species

About this book

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, is the most destructive and invasive termite species globally. It is also the only termite species listed in the world's 100 worst invasive alien species of the Global Invasive Species Database. Annually, its infestation costs more than $4 billion in control and damage repairs in the USA alone.

This book is the first comprehensive resource drawing on all the literature on C. formosanus since Tokuichi Shiraki first described the species in 1909. The book covers the worldwide distribution of this species, its biogeography, and how it has dispersed from its native range in southern China and Taiwan to different parts of the world. It describes its present taxonomic status and discusses the species' biology, ecology, foraging behavior, physiology, chemical ecology and its association with symbionts. From a practical standpoint, the authors address all of the various management options for this species, such as baits, soil termiticides, wood preservatives, inspection and detection technologies, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches. Lastly, there are chapters dedicated to another important destructive species, Coptotermes gestroi (the Asian subterranean termite), and the recently discovered C. formosanus/C. gestroi hybrids.

This important book is an essential and valuable reference for researchers, graduate students, pest management professionals, chemical manufacturer personnel, building and property managers, and others. It provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of the biology and management of the Formosan subterranean termite and the Asian subterranean termite.

Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction / Nan-Yao Su and Chow-Yang Lee
Chapter 2. Biogeography of Coptotermes formosanus / Rudolf H. Scheffrahn
Chapter 3. Taxonomic status of Coptotermes formosanus and related species / Hou-Feng Li and Chia-Chien Wu
Chapter 4. A primer to termite biology: Coptotermes colony life cycle, development, and demographics / Thomas Chouvenc
Chapter 5. Ecology and foraging behavior / Nan-Yao Su
Chapter 6. Physiology of the Formosan subterranean termite, with special reference to wood degradation and metabolism / Gaku Tokuda, Shuji Itakura, Nathan Lo
Chapter 7. Chemical Ecology / Qian Sun
Chapter 8. Symbiosis and microbiome: a unique quadripartite system / Claudia Husseneder
Chapter 9. Dispersal and genetic structure of colonies and populations / Edward L. Vargo
Chapter 10. Inspection and monitoring / Faith M. Oi
Chapter 11. Management using baits / Nan-Yao Su
Chapter 12. Management of subterranean termites with liquid insecticides / Chow-Yang Lee and Kok-Boon Neoh
Chapter 13. Prevention of damage to building materials using wood preservatives / Wakako Ohmura and Koichi Yamamoto
Chapter 14. Alternative and experimental management methods / J. Kenneth Grace
Chapter 15. IPM and area-wide population management / Nan-Yao Su
Chapter 16. Asian Subterranean Termite, Coptermes gestroi / Kok-Boon Neoh and Chow-Yang Lee
Chapter 17. Hybridization between Coptotermes formosanus and Coptotermes gestroi / Thomas Chouvenc and Hou-Feng Li
Chapter 18. Using Coptotermes for laboratory experiments: field collection, laboratory rearing and bioassay visualization / Thomas Chouvenc
Chapter 19. More questions to answer / Nan-Yao Su

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Biography

Nan-Yao Su is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Florida. He published over 300 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on termite biology and control. His studies on the population ecology and behaviour of subterranean termites led to the development of a baiting system for population management of subterranean termite pests. Awards and honours he received include the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture's Honor Award, Urban Entomological Award, Distinguished Alumnus of the Year (University of Hawaii), ESA Fellow, Medal of Honor of Entomological Foundation, Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, and inductee of Florida Inventors Hall of Fame.

Chow-Yang Lee is the Professor and Endowed Presidential Chair in Urban Entomology at the University of California, Riverside. His research centres around understanding the behavioural, ecological and physiological adaptations of urban insect pests. He has published more than 210 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and books, and mentored 45 PhD/M.S students. He received the 2021 Medical, Veterinary and Urban Entomology Award (Pacific Branch, Entomological Society of America), the 2012 Top Research Scientists Malaysia, Fulbright Scholarship (2002), and the National Young Scientist Award of Malaysia (2000). He was the Past President of the Pacific-Rim Termite Research Group (2012-2016).