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8 May 2023 First record of the major termite pest species, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), in Argentina
Tiago F. Carrijo, Jaqueline Battilana, Jorge Morales
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Abstract

Reticulitermes flavipes is the most invasive species in its genus and is responsible for causing significant damage to human structures in areas where it has been introduced. Although it has already become established in Chile and Uruguay, it had not previously been reported in Argentina. In this study, we report the first detection of this species in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The colony was already producing alates, and species identification was confirmed through both morphology and mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA analysis. Our results, while not conclusive, suggest that this introduction was independent from the one that occurred in Chile and Uruguay, and potentially originated from the United States. The detection of R. flavipes in Argentina is significant because it highlights the potential for this species to establish itself in new regions and underscores the need for future research on and control of R. flavipes in this country.

Tiago F. Carrijo, Jaqueline Battilana, and Jorge Morales "First record of the major termite pest species, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), in Argentina," Journal of Economic Entomology 116(3), 1033-1037, (8 May 2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toad076
Received: 15 March 2023; Accepted: 24 April 2023; Published: 8 May 2023
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KEYWORDS
Argentina
eastern subterranean termite
invasive species
new record
pest control
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