Geo&Bio (Dec 2019)
Distribution of the termite Reticulitermes lucifugus (Isoptera) and the specifics of its invasion in Ukraine
Abstract
The only known termite species occurring in Ukraine is the Mediterranean termite Reticulitermes lucifugus Rossi, 1792 (Rhinotermitidae). The description of currently known finds of this species in six administra-tive regions of Ukraine is given in this article along with a generalised map of distribution. At the present time, the species occurs in islet forests and artificial pine plantations of the Lover Dnipro region and also in ravines and roadsides. Termite infection threats to buildings in Ukraine is very real and in recent years has become more common. This article presents the development of the species’ invasion from the Black Sea area (from Odesa and Mykolaiv) to the north-east direction through Zaporizhia and Dnipro cities. Four finds of termite settlement in north-east Ukraine are described — in Sumy city (three cases) and Hlybne village, Krasnopillya Raion, Sumy Oblast (one case). The first place of the species’ discovery in this area was in Hlybne in summer 2013, when in a private home tables, the cupboard and commode were affected by ter-mites. In this summer, the residents of the house moved here to live from Bashkortostan, Russia. Over time, all the furniture became unusable and was thrown away. The species of termites in those furniture remained unclear. Another record locality was a flat in Sumy city on the eighth floor of a 12-storey building, where on 15 of July 2015 termites and their nesting chambers were found behind a wall mirror, which was bought in a supermarket by its owner 9 months before. The insects were also found on adjoining floors above. The termites were next discovered in late April 2016 in a private home in a wood-based wall mirror that was purchased in the same supermarket. The fourth termite find was reported from a flat in a 9-storey building. Its owner purchased a large wall mirror in the same supermarket. The wooden base of the mirror was struck by termites. All records of termites were located in different parts of the city. These new finds expand the boundaries of the species’ distribution in Ukraine by 270 km to the north.
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