Abstract

FERRAZ, Marisa Vianna  and  MENDEZ-MONTIEL, José Tulio. First record of a subterranean termite, Coptotermes havilandi Holmgren (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), on the west coast of North America (Mexico). Acta Zool. Mex [online]. 2004, vol.20, n.2, pp.39-43. ISSN 2448-8445.

The subterranean termite, Coptotermes havilandi Holmgren, is reported from a previously undocumented site located in Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. This is the first record of that exotic species on the West Coast of North America. Termites were found inhabiting and damaging pine logs in a fiscal warehouse at Manzanillo harbor. Their proximity to the harbor, in addition to the lack of any other infestations in the surroundings, suggests that they were probably introduced as a result of maritime trade. New distribution records are also reported in Mexico City (Mexico) and the State of Pará (Brazil). This study shows that that species continues being introduced in many countries despite the efforts of harbor quarantines.

Keywords : Coptotermes havilandi; distribution; new record; Mexico.