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Subterranean termite (Blattodea: Termitoidae) pests in metropolitan Brisbane, Australia, 1997–2006: patterns and implications
Author(s) -
Peters Brenton C,
Perkins Lynda E,
Cochrane Gary H,
Zalucki Myron P
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
austral entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.502
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 2052-1758
pISSN - 2052-174X
DOI - 10.1111/aen.12228
Subject(s) - coptotermes , blattodea , abundance (ecology) , metropolitan area , ecology , negative binomial distribution , geography , infestation , distribution (mathematics) , biology , agronomy , statistics , mathematics , archaeology , cockroach , poisson distribution , mathematical analysis
The distribution and abundance of subterranean termites in Brisbane, Australia, has not previously been investigated, despite the sub‐tropical climate being favourable for these xylophagous insects which often cause damage to the built environment. Data on the incidence of termite infestations, including taxonomic identity, locality and site of infestation within premises were collected by a large commercial pest management company in metropolitan Brisbane during a ten‐year period (1997 – 2006). General Linear Models based on a negative binomial distribution were used to examine the influence of the climatic variables of rainfall and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), and the demographic variables of premise density and socioeconomic status, on the number of termite infestations found. Two genera of termites dominated: Schedorhinotermes , which was the most abundant both indoors and outdoors, and Coptotermes . That Schedorhinotermes spp. were the major xylophagous subterranean termites recorded is unique in Australian capital cities where Coptotermes spp. usually dominate. The patterns of abundance and distribution of both genera are discussed with respect to their differing biology. SOI, premise density per ha and household income all significantly explained the variation in termite abundance reported across metropolitan Brisbane over the 10 year study. Our results shows the potential for using SOI as a predictor of termite activity. Further study is needed to more accurately correlate the key drivers of termite activity with the incidence of termite infestations in premises.