EXPANSION OF THE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE

(RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES. KOLLAR) IN CHILE

Rene CARMONA* , Alejandro RIQUELME
University of Chile, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y de la Conservación de la Naturaleza. ORENKO 2018
Santa Rosa 11.315. Santiago, Chile. (*email: recarmon@uchile.cl) Trabzon, Turkey

ABSTRACT
The species of subterranean termite that is strongly affecting wood houses in Chile was identified as Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar, a xylophagous insect detected for the first time in 1986 in
Santiago, Chile, as recorded in the records of the Museum of Natural History and of the Agricultural and Livestock Service of Chile (SAG). Its introduction is estimated to have happened in
the decade of 1960 in contaminated packaging wood coming from the United States.
Since its detection, this urban plague has shown a rapid territorial expansion and aggressiveness, verifying an increase of complaints in different areas of the Metropolitan Region and V
Region of Valparaíso. Early studies indicated the existence of 80 outbreaks of termite infestation in 29 communes Santiago city. In the Region of Valparaiso, in 2004 there were 56 focus in
different communes.
This study aimed to detect the area where the pest is currently present and put on alert the authorities about its effects and control, as well as the causes of its expansion. For which a survey
was designed with opened and closed questions addressed to municipal managers that are handling of complains and are responsible of the pest control.
The results indicate that there has been a rapid expansion to other communities of Santiago city occurred in the RM, as well as in the region of Valparaiso. This shows a rapid and great
adaptation of the insect to different climate and soil conditions, generating significant economic loss and discomfort to the owners of the affected houses. The causes of the pest expansion
include: general ignorance about the insect, transport of infested material, inadequate constructive design, almost no use of preventive measures for wood protection of wood and curative
control in the affected houses.

RESULTS AND DISCUSION

INTRODUCTION
The 1986 discovery of a Reticulitermes sp. in Santiago marked the first confirmed record

of subterranean termites in Chile. Samples of the 1986 collection were deposited at the

Museum of Natural History, Santiago (Camousseight, 1999). Little attention was given to it
Social insects, some of the world’s most successful invaders, are
until the early 1990s when increasing infestations of subterranean termites were reported
among those whose introduction and spread has been favoured by in Santiago, and from Valparaíso (Intec-Infor-Corfo, 1998). Since its detection, this urban
conditions in large cities (Ascunce et al. 2011). In temperate habitats, plague has shown a rapid territorial expansion and aggressiveness, verifying an increase

subterranean termites of the genera Coptotermes and Reticulitermes of complaints in different areas of the Metropolitan Region and V Region of Valparaíso.

Early studies indicated the existence of 80 outbreaks of termite infestation in 29

(Rhinotermitidae) are extremely common and frequently infest
communes Santiago city. In the Region of Valparaiso, in 2004 there were 56 focus in
anthropogenic structures (Evans et al. 2013). The subterranean termite different communes (Ripa and Luppichini 2005). The results of this study indicate an

Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar is a major urban pest in both its native improvement in the number of surveys answered, the differences between them in the

department in charge, treatment, record of the information and the actions to be followed
range and its introduced range (Evans et al. 2013). In the United States,
persist. 80% of the municipalities do not apply control treatment to the affected houses
its place of origin, it can be found in the eastern US from Texas to
and 100% admit not to carry out training on the pest. What explains rapid expansion to
Wisconsin, east to Massachusetts and south to southern Florida other communities of Santiago city occurred in the RM, as well as in the region of

(Perdereau et al., 2013). It has been unintentionally introduced into Valparaiso (Figure 1). This shows a rapid and great adaptation of the insect to different

other countries in the Americas (i.e., Chile and Canada) and in Europe
(i.e., France, Germany, and Italy). In its native range, R. flavipes usually
lives in forests, but is also encountered in anthropogenic structures that
climate and soil conditions, generating significant economic loss and discomfort to the
owners of the affected houses. The causes of the pest expansion include: general
ignorance about the insect, transport of infested material, inadequate constructive design,
almost no use of preventive measures for wood protection of wood and curative control in

have wooden frames. Additionally, the termite’s complex breeding the affected houses.

system seems to enhance its ability to colonize urban areas, because

the higher temperatures experienced in cities favour R. flavipes colony

worker soldier alates

persistence during the colder months of the year (Botch and RM-1998 (red area ∽600 Km2) RM-2017 (red area.∽ 7.000 Km2)

Houseman, 2018). Recent studies have suggested that their

sophisticated system of social organization as well as their diverse and

flexible breeding system and dispersal modes have allowed them to

spread in dense urban habitats, where they easily pass from one
CHILE

building to another (Perdereau et al. 2013; Chouvenc et al., 2016).

The data-collection methods employed in the specific study sites, VR-2005 VR-2014
Thisincluded
study aimed
communityto detect the focus-group
meetings, area where the pest is currently
interviews, present
application of semi-structured questionnaires were made to the
andheads
put onof alert the authorities
the cleaning about
and gardens its effects
department and control, as
of the well as Figure 1. Presence of subterranean termites in the metropolitan region (MR) and the V region (VR)
municipalities of the metropolitan region and V region of
in a historical progression. The red area indicates the existence of termites.
the Valparaiso
causes (persons responsible of the pest control), and direct
of its expansion.
field observation by the authors.
CONCLUSIONS
Part of the data related to knowledge of termites were found by Geolocation of the study of termites

searching the internet and databases, and checking the references There is a greater number of affected communities since the surveys carried out in
of published studies. the metropolitan region and V region of Valparaiso.
Currently there is a greater number of outbreaks in several of the communes
METHODS affected previously and new outbreaks have appeared in which the plague had not
been detected
Termite Termite Termite
mud tube damage
There is still no clear policy regarding the Management of the Scourge
Wood hole

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