Pest termite Cryptotermes havilandi (Sjöstedt, 1900) (Blattodea: Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) as an invasive species of natural ecosystems in northeastern Brazil
摘要
Cryptotermes havilandi (Sjöstedt, 1900) (Blattodea: Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) is an important pest of wood worldwide. Incorporating morphology and molecular analysis, we present here the first record of this species in natural ecosystems inserted in the wettest sectors of the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. The fact that previous extensive surveys of termites in this region (more than 30 sites) have not detected this species suggests that C. havilandi has only recently expanded its distribution. Considering that our findings were made in natural ecosystems, our results suggest that this important pest may ecologically compete with species present in Brazil, which requires specific impact studies.