title: Potential Hybridization between Two Invasive Termite Species, Coptotermes formosanus and C. gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), and Its Biological and Economic Implications.
abstract: The Asian subterranean termite,Coptotermes gestroi, is a tropical species but has increasingly been collected from the subtropics in recent years, making it sympatric to the Formosan subterranean termite,C. formosanusin at least three areas, Taiwan, Hawaii, and Florida. Simultaneous flights by these two species were observed since 2013 in South Florida, during which interspecies tandems were observed. Laboratory mating ofC. formosanusandC. gestroialates produced hybrid incipient colonies of larger population size. Studies are underway to examine the presence in the field of hybrid colonies in sympatric areas of Taiwan and Florida. Other biological characteristics ofC. formosanus×C. gestroihybrids being studied include temperature tolerance and preference, colony growth rate, wood-consumption rate, and reproductive fertility. This current research aims to determine the potential establishment of a hybrid termite population in south Florida and Taiwan. It investigates the risk of introgressive hybridization in field populations, with an emphasis on its potential ecological, evolutionary, and economic consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA. nysu@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Nan-Yao
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Nematology, Ft. Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA. tomchouv@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chouvenc
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xingda Rd., Taichung 40227, Taiwan. houfeng@nchu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Hou-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Li
keywords: hybrid vigor; introgression; social insect; structural pest; termite