Termites in Canada
WouterTermites are cosmopolitan animals that thrive in tropical and sub-tropical regions. They feed on dead and live wood, cellulosic materials, and plant materials. In order to survive, they require moisture. Termites are found throughout Canada, but they are especially prevalent in the northern and southern regions.
Termite infestation is a major problem in Canada. The most common species of termite are the eastern subterranean and western subterranean species. The eastern subterranean species has been introduced to Ontario three times in the past century.
Reticulitermes flavipes has been found in the United States and Europe. It has also been introduced to South America. The species has been a nuisance to human-made structures in Toronto, Ontario.
Researchers have conducted studies on termites in several Canadian provinces. The results have shown that the termite population in the City of Toronto is very low genetic diversity. The colony size is low, and the intercolonial aggression between the colonies is low.
Although most of the colonies in the City of Toronto are unicolonial, they do not have obvious boundaries across urban landscapes. This is similar to the open structure of colonies in France.
The presence of these infestations has been reported in the city’s older neighborhoods, including pockets of Elora and Kincardine. The population may have originated from a single introduction.
During the 1950s, termites were reported in neighbouring municipalities. These colonies can be regionally close, or can form a metapopulation.
Raffoul et al. (2011) examined the genetic diversity of the Raffoul flavipes population at Point Pelee National Park. They found higher diversity in the Pelee region than in the greater Toronto area. However, they did not find evidence of unique substitution patterns.
