Publications

RESEARCH

Monitoring Termites in the Azores Archipelago: A Comprehensive Dataset (2011–2024)

Borges, P. A. V., Bettencourt, S., Vargas, D., Melo, J., Medeiros, R., & Rodrigues, A. (2025). Monitoring Termites in the Azores Archipelago: A Comprehensive Dataset (2011–2024). Version 1.1. Universidade dos Açores. Occurrence dataset. DOI:10.15468/4x5fwt

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  • Jun, 2025

Summary

Four species of termites were surveyed and monitored in the Azorean island between 2011 and 2024 by the Azorean Government under two main monitoring programs, "House Inspections" and "Monitoring Traps": the Drywood termite Cryptotermes brevis (Walker, 1853), the Yellownecked dry-wood termite Kalotermes flavicollis (Fabricius, 1793), the European subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei Clément, 1978 and Eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar, 1837). The records of C. brevis dominate over the remaining three surveyed species, with 1855 out of the 1886 events (98%). These records are mostly from two islands, Terceira (940 records) and São Miguel (777 records). Three islands (Faial, Pico and Santa Maria) have around 40 records each and São Jorge only 17 records. Annual counts for all islands rose from ~ 40 records in 2011 to 208 records in 2024, with a peak of 185 records in 2023 and 208 in2024. Concerning, K. flavicollis, this was the second most recorded species with 24 records, most of them from São Miguel Island. The two subterranean termites were recorded as expected from the historical data from Faial and Terceira. Now established on every surveyed island, with an upward trajectory in annual record?counts, C. brevis remains the single greatest urban termite threat in the Azores. Sustained focus on early detection (e.g., year?round trap checks) and high?level public awareness (e.g., instructing residents to report tiny, pin?sized fecal pellets) is vital to prevent further outbreaks of heavily infested structures.
 

http://ipt.gbif.pt/ipt/resource?r=termites_scit&v=1.1