School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth WA 6009, Australia.
Curr Opin Insect Sci. 2021 Aug;46:88-94. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.03.003. Epub 2021 Mar 23.
There are 28 invasive termite species, most belong to two families, the Kalotermitidae (esp. Cryptotermes spp.) and Rhinotermitidae (esp. Coptotermes spp.). Six invasive termite species are known to have spread into natural habitats, but little direct research has been conducted into their ecological impacts. Predictions based on indirect research (natural durability of commercial wood species) suggest fast-growing, pioneer tree species with low density wood, perhaps notably legumes, are most vulnerable to invasive termites, but even slow growing climax tree species may succumb. Cryptotermes will likely have less ecological impact, due to small colonies attacking dead branch stubs in the canopy. Coptotermes will likely have greater impact, due to large colony sizes and nesting in living trees, which they hollow out and can kill. There are no studies of invasive termites on native termites, other wood-eating insects, or predators, such as ants, showing considerable scope for future research.
有 28 种入侵性白蚁物种，大多数属于两个科，即白蚁科（特别是Cryptotermes 属）和鼻白蚁科（特别是 Coptotermes 属）。有 6 种入侵性白蚁物种已传播到自然栖息地，但对其生态影响的直接研究很少。基于间接研究（商业木材品种的自然耐久性）的预测表明，生长迅速、具有低密度木材的先锋树种，可能特别包括豆科植物，最容易受到入侵性白蚁的侵害，但即使是生长缓慢的顶极树种也可能屈服。由于白蚁的小群体攻击树冠中枯死的树枝残桩，Cryptotermes 可能产生的生态影响较小。由于蚁群较大，且在活树上筑巢，因此 Coptotermes 可能产生更大的影响，它们会掏空树木并杀死树木。目前还没有关于入侵性白蚁对本地白蚁、其他食木昆虫或蚂蚁等捕食者的研究，这表明未来有很大的研究空间。
