First Record of the Soil-feeding Higher Termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Okinawa Island, the Central Ryukyus, Japan

Scientists document the first occurrence of the soil-feeding termite Pericapritermes nitobei on Okinawa Island, part of Japan's UNESCO-listed Ryukyu Archipelago. This discovery challenges prior assumptions about termite dispersal, as P. nitobei, which thrives in soil rather than wood, was absent from previous exhaustive surveys across the region. The team suggests human activity—likely via transportation or trade—recently introduced this species to the Motobu Peninsula, mirroring patterns seen with other invasive termites like Odontotermes formosanus. Their findings imply that non-wood-dependent termites can establish in new environments, expanding our understanding of how these insects colonize and adapt beyond their native ranges. The study highlights the role of human-mediated dispersal in shaping termite distributions, with broader implications for biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics.

Nozaki, T., Hojo, M., Yashiro, T., & Matsuura, K. (2021). First Record of the Soil-feeding Higher Termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) from Okinawa Island, the Central Ryukyus, Japan. Sociobiology, 68(2), 6159. https://doi.org/10.13102/sociobiology.v68i2.6159