Distribution record of the invasive drywood termite Cryptotermes domesticus (Haviland) in Riau Province, Sumatra Island, Indonesia

Abstract

The domestic drywood termite, Cryptotermes domesticus (Haviland), has been referred to in past literature as a native species originating in the Southeast Asia region. The species come to prominence due to its destructive damage to a dried wood log by creating passages and nests inside the wood. Its economic importance makes the species one of the monitored species in inter-island transport as part of a biosecurity initiative by the Indonesian Government. In the present study, we collected drywood termites’ specimens from four locations in Riau Province, Sumatra Island, and conducted morphological identification. In the end, we verify the presence of C. domesticus in all four sites studied. This finding establishes the continued presence of the species in Sumatra, one of the areas reported as the native distribution of the species other than Java and Kalimantan following the Holmgren reports in 1913. We believe this report can be an addition to the current status of C. domesticus in Sumatra and also be an addition to the biosecurity initiative list of monitored species regarding the C. domesticus native range in Indonesia.