Termites found in Belgium for the first time

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This work was presented at the NEOBIOTA conference in Lisbon (September 3rd – 6th 2024).
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We’re thrilled to announce our latest research paper, documenting the first records of multiple invasive termite species in Belgium.

Subterranean termites and drywood termites pose significant threats to wooden constructions, with the potential for substantial economic impact. Our study sheds light on the invasion of three exotic termite species in Belgium: Cryptotermes brevis, Reticulitermes banyulensis, and Reticulitermes flavipes.

These first-time records mark a crucial milestone in understanding the spread and impact of invasive termites in our region. Utilizing DNA barcoding, we’ve confirmed the morphological identification of these species.

Reticulitermes flavipes (Photo Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)
Reticulitermes flavipes
(Photo Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr)
Cryptotermes brevis. (Photo David Mora del Pozo, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
Cryptotermes brevis
(Photo David Mora del Pozo, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
Reticulitermes banyulensis. (Photo: Hans Hillewaert [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0], via Flickr)
Reticulitermes banyulensis
(Photo Hans Hillewaert [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0], via Flickr)

The infestations of Cryptotermes brevis and Reticulitermes banyulensis are probably of little concern, as local climatological conditions make it unlikely for either species to survive in Belgium. In contrast, it is likely that Reticulitermes flavipes may become established and will spread to other sites in Belgium, so proactive measures are thus essential to prevent further infestations.

The original paper is published in BioInvasions Records.

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