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Abstract
Mature colonies of
Reticulitermes spp. reproduce and spread mainly by secondary (rather than alate) reproductives throughout their geographical distribution, but especially near the northern boundaries of their range. Historically in Wisconsin, winged reproductives of the one established species,
Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), have been noted only a few times in ground-dwelling colonies and are thus not thought to spread in this manner. Previous research suggests that populations in Wisconsin were introduced by anthropogenic movement of infested materials, a hypothesis supported by recent results from amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data. Both spatial and non-spatial genetic clustering models suggested strong genetic differentiation among all colonies sampled, indicating little transfer of genetic material. On May 02, 2012 numerous alate reproductives were seen in Janesville, Wisconsin, independent of heated structures after a particularly warm winter. Triggers of alate formation and the influence of temperature in alate differentiation are topics of ongoing research to better assess the risks for future termite introductions, which could rapidly expand the range of
R. flavipes northward.
Citation
Arango, R. A.; Green, F. III; Esenther, G.R.; Marschalek, D.A.; Berres, M.E.; Raffa, K.F. 2014. Mechanisms of Termite Spread in Wisconsin and Potential Consequences as a Result of Changing Climate Trends. Proceedings of the 109th American Wood Protection Association, April 28-May 1, 2013; Honolulu, Hawaii: 109: 2014; pp. 111-114.
