A new species of Reticulitermes Holmgren, 1913 (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) from the southeastern United States

Reticulitermes nelsonae, a new species of subterranean termite (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) is described from Sapelo Island, Georgia, United States of America, with specimens also found in North Carolina and Florida. The adult and soldier castes are described and illustrated to distinguish R. nelsonae from the four described Reticulitermes spp. known to occur in the southeastern United States

The impact of conventional and organic farming on soil biodiversity conservation: a case study on termites in the long-term farming systems comparison trials in Kenya

A long-term experiment at two trial sites in Kenya has been on-going since 2007 to assess the effect of organic and conventional farming systems on productivity, profitability and sustainability. During these trials the presence of significant numbers of termites (Isoptera) was observed. Termites are major soil macrofauna and within literature they are either depict as ‘pests’ or as important indicator for environmental sustainability. The extent by which termites may be managed to avoid crop damage, but improve sustainability of farming systems is worthwhile to understand. Therefore, a study on termites was added to the long-term experiments in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to quantify the effect of organic (Org) and conventional (Conv) farming systems at two input levels (low and high) on the abundance, incidence, diversity and foraging activities of termites. The results showed higher termite abundance, incidence, activity and diversity in Org-High compared to Conv-High, Conv-Low and Org-Low. However, the termite presence in each system was also dependent on soil depth, trial site and cropping season. During the experiment, nine different termite genera were identified, that belong to three subfamilies: (i) Macrotermitinae (genera: Allodontotermes, Ancistrotermes, Macrotermes, Microtermes, Odontotermes and Pseudocanthotermes), (ii) Termitinae (Amitermes and Cubitermes) and (iii) Nasutitiermitinae (Trinervitermes). We hypothesize that the presence of termites within the different farming systems might be influenced by the types of input applied, the soil moisture content and the occurrence of natural enemies. Our findings further demonstrate that the organic high input system attracts termites, which are an important, and often beneficial, component of soil fauna. This further increases the potential of such systems in enhancing sustainable agricultural production in Kenya

Large-Scale Production of Fungal Bait Blocks for the Attraction of Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

It has been shown that wood infected with the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers. ex Fr.) Murr. is\u27more attractive to termites than sound wood. For several years, small blocks of infected wood have been used as bait to sample soil sites for the presence of termites. The method described here for bait block production is more suitable than the ASTM method for large-scale work

Termites of the Genus Cryptotermes Banks (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) from the West Indies

A taxonomic revision of the genus Cryptotermes occurring in the West Indies is given based on recent collections from the Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas. Seventeen indigenous and four nonindigenous species are described from external morphology ofthe soldier. The imago caste is also described for all but one species. The indigenous Cryptotermes comprise twelve new species, including C. aequacornis, C. cryptognathus, C. cylindroceps, C. cymatofrons, C. darlingtonae, C.juliani, C. mangoldi, C. nitens, C.parvifrons, C. rotundiceps, C. spathifrons, and C. undulans. Five indigenous species are redescribed, including C. cavifrons Banks, C. chasei Scheffrahn, C. hemicyclius Bacchus, C. pyrodomus Bacchus, and C. rhicnocephalus Bacchus. The imagos of C. pyrodomus and C. rhicnocephalus are described for the first time. The four non-indigenous species are redescribed including C. brevis (Walker), C. domesticus (Haviland), C. dudleyi Banks, and C. havilandi (Sj6stedt). A report of C. domesticus in the West Indies could not be confirmed. Distribution maps and a soldier identification key are included for all Cryptotermes in the West Indies and Florida

Sexual dimorphism, fresh water dispersal range, and prey items of Marine toads (Rhinella marina) in Lennox Head, Australia

The invasive cane or marine toad (Rhinella marina) has spread across much of Australia since its initial introduction in 1935. Naturally found in Central and South America, R. marina was introduced to Northern Queensland to control cane insect pest populations. This study was conducted at Lake Ainsworth, Lerui.ox Head, New South Wales, Australia to determine if there was sexual dimorphism amoflg ~dult males, adult females, and juveniles by measuring snout-vent length (SVL) and weight. Additional research objectives included determining aquatic range dispersal between adult male and female cane toads, and stomach contents of adult male, adult female, and juvenile by prey order and abundance. There were significant differences detected between SVL of males with small testes (80.00 ± 9.35) and males with developed testes (102.1 ± 11.3, p = 0.007), SVL between gravid females (111.4 ± 16.1) and non-gravid females (95.7 ± 12.1,p = 0.039), and weight between male cane toads (90.9 ± 31.3) and gravid females (145.6 ± 66.7,p = 0.011). There was no significant difference in weight between males (90.9 ± 31.3) and non-gravid females (82.1 ± 34.0, p = 0.506), or SVL between males (102.1 ± 11.3) and females (103.6 ± 16.1, p = 0.637). Insect orders in the stomach contents of R. marina included Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Arachnida, Diptera, Blattodea, Isoptera, Hemiptera, Orthoptera, Odonata, and Dermaptera! . This species likely competes with native species found in the area such as: Limnodyn4sles terraereginae, Liloria caeruiea, Liloria nasuta, Liloria chloris, Liloria brevipalmala, Limnodynastes peronii, Litoria pe ron ii, Crinia signifera, Liloria fallax, Limnodynastes ornatus, Liloria gracilenta, and Liloria tyleri, which also feed on small insects. Several other native species of anurans from New South Wales such as Pseudophryne corroboree, P. dendyi, P. bibroni, Crinia signifera, and Hyla verreauxi had stomach contents that contained the orders Collembola, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Hemiptera, Diptera, Acarina, Araneae, Orthoptera, Odonata, and Diplopoda, suggesting that cane toads compete directly for food resources with the native species.Honors CollegeThesis (B.?.

Laboratory and field evaluation for the resistance of commonly used woods against _Coptotermes heimi_ (Wasmann).

The current study was conducted to evaluate the resistance of four wood species (_Azadirachta indica_, _Pinus roxberghii_, _Dalbergia sissoo_ and _Populus deltoides_) against subterranean termite species _Coptotermes heimi_ by choice and no choice field and laboratory trials. Of these four wood species _P. roxberghii_ and _D. sissoo_ proved to be most resistant to termite attack. Taken together these results we can conclude that _D. sissoo_ is the least preferred and _P. deltoides_ is the most preferred wood by the _C. heimi_. The data obtained from the field choice and no-choice the woods are arranged in order of preference DS>PR>AI>PD whereas in laboratory choice and no-choice trials the order of preference was PD>AI>PR>DS

Present knowledge of the Entomofauna of the Maltese Islands

The Maltese Islands' strategic position in the centre of the Mediterranean basin and in between the Siculo Tunisian sill, always encouraged a number of foreign naturalists to visit and study their local entomofauna. A number of Maltese naturalists also contributed to such investigations. All this activity yielded a substantial amount of literature, sometimes with descriptions of possibly endemic species. Unfortunately, some of these earlier published works and those found in Maltese journals, are not easily accessible. A brief general account of the entomofauna inhabiting the Maltese Islands is provided, citing general works in which earlier citations may be found and where possible indicating lack of research on certain insect groups.peer-reviewe