The number of recognized invasive termite species has increased from 17 in 1969 to 28 today. Fourteen species have been added to the list in the past 44 years; 10 have larger distributions and 4 have no reported change in distribution, and 3 species are no longer considered invasive. Although most research has focused on invasive termites in urban areas, molecular identification methods have answered questions about certain species and found that at least six species have invaded natural forest habitats. All invasive species share three characteristics that together increase the probability of creating viable propagules: they eat wood, nest in food, and easily generate secondary reproductives. These characteristics are most common in two families, the Kalotermitidae and Rhinotermitidae (which make up 21 species on the invasive termite list), particularly in three genera, Cryptotermes, Heterotermes, and Coptotermes (which together make up 16 species). Although it is the largest termite family, the Termitidae (comprising 70% of all termite species) have only two invasive species, because relatively few species have these characteristics. Islands have double the number of invasive species that continents do, with islands in the South Pacific the most invaded geographical region. Most invasive species originate from Southeast Asia. The standard control methods normally used against native pest termites are also employed against invasive termites; only two eradication attempts, in South Africa and New Zealand, appear to have been successful, both against Coptotermes species.

Grooming is a well-recognized, multipurpose, behavior in arthropods and vertebrates. In this paper, we review the literature to highlight the physical function, neurophysiological mechanisms, and role that grooming plays in insect defense against pathogenic infection. The intricate relationships between the physical, neurological and immunological mechanisms of grooming are discussed to illustrate the importance of this behavior when examining the ecology of insect-pathogen interactions.

Concentrations of 22 elements in pinewood were compared with that in frass produced by insects representing the following taxa:Reticulitermesspp. (Rhinotermitidae), Zootermopsis nevadensis(Termopsidae), Incisitermes snyderi(Kalotermitidae), Hylotrupesspp. (Cerambycidae),Heterobostrychusspp. (Bostrichidae), Lyctusspp. (Bostrichidae),and representatives of the family Ptinidae (formerly Anobiidae). Twenty elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Si, Sr, and Zn) were measured using inductively coupled plasma‐optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‐OES), whereas carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen percentages were measured using aCHNautoanalyzer. Chromium was the only element present at a statistically lower concentration in all frass types compared to pinewood. A comparison of pinewood to frass from those taxa that fed on pine revealed thatReticulitermes frass contained significantly higher levels of 15 elements,Zootermopsis10, Ptinidae 5,Incisitermes4, andHylotrupes 1. OnlyIncisitermesfrass showed a significantly higher percent carbon than pinewood andReticulitermes,Zootermopsis, and Ptinidae showed significantly higher percent nitrogen. Examination of percent approximate digestibility (PAD) indicated thatReticulitermesfrass had 14 elements that were ≥200% more concentrated than found in pinewood, whereasZootermopsishad 6,Lyctus5, ptinid 4,HylotrupesandHeterobostrychus3, andIncisitermesnone. This survey of elements in frass indicates that saproxylic insects are, for the most part, not sequestrating but rather recycling (releasing) the store of micronutrients in wood biomass, with the greatest potential contribution to soil nutrient cycles attributable to subterranean termites.

Reticulitermes nelsonae, a new species of Rhinotermitidae (Isoptera) is described based on specimens from Sapelo Island, GA, Thomasville, GA, Havelock, NC, and Branford, FL. Adult (alate) and soldier forms are described. Diagnostic characters are provided and incorporated into a supplemental couplet of a dichotomous key to the known species of Reticulitermes found in Georgia, USA.