Rising Temperatures and Urban Development Create Ideal Conditions for Termites to Spread to New Territories.
As temperatures increase due to climate change, destructive termites may invade urban areas from Miami to New York, according to a study published in the journal Neobiota, as reported by Newsweek on May 1. This could lead to massive losses, as termites currently cost the world $40 billion each year.
Termites cause significant damage to homes and infrastructure each year. (Photo: iStock).
There are over 2,000 species of termites on Earth, exhibiting high diversity in behavior, size, and preferred habitat. Termites primarily feed on cellulose, a major component of wood. They can digest cellulose with the help of symbiotic microorganisms in their guts. Many termite species are invasive, including the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) from East Asia. They have established invasive populations across the United States, particularly in southern states, where they can cause severe structural damage due to their large populations and rapid wood consumption. Invasive termites are responsible for significant economic damage to buildings, crops, and forestry, leading to the rapid weakening of wooden structures.
In the study, a team of experts from the City University of Brussels in Belgium modeled 10 invasive termite species that could spread across territories in the future. They found that as temperatures rise in the coming decades, termites will spread further and tend to thrive more in urban areas due to urbanization.
The research results reveal that many invasive termite species could find suitable habitats in heavily urbanized areas and economic hubs on every continent except Antarctica. This trend is particularly evident in the context of climate change and increased socio-economic development, providing more favorable biological and infrastructural conditions for termites.
Dense populations and the interconnected nature of urban communities create the perfect environment for termite invasion, posing risks to several U.S. cities. C. formosanus, with a distribution range from warm temperate to subtropical regions, poses a particular threat in major southeastern cities in the United States.
Additionally, termites can spread globally through networks of shipping routes, particularly through the transport of wooden goods. Termite colonies nesting within wooden items can move from the West Indies to France, according to co-authors Edouard Duquesne and Denis Fournier from the City University of Brussels. The queen termite is attracted to light, which can trigger reproduction and lay the foundation for new populations to invade dry lands. Researchers hope this discovery can assist cities and planners in accurately implementing protective measures for homes and infrastructure against termite invasions.
