Termite infestation in historical buildings and residences in the semiarid region of Brazil

This study evaluated termite infestations in historical buildings (HB) and residences (RB) in five cities in the semiarid region of Brazil (A1: Fagundes; A2: Pocinhos; A3: Alagoa Grande; A4: Areia; A5: Bananeiras). Eighty-nine percent of infestation of historical buildings and 62% of residential buildings were caused by nine species of termites, belonging to six genera and three families (Kalotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae). We observed greater richness in A3, A4 and A5 ( Amitermes amifer, Heterotermes tenuis, H. sulcatus, H. longiceps, Neotermes sp. and Nasutitermes corniger), relating to A1 and A2 ( Nasutitermes sp.1, Nasutitermes sp.2, N. corniger and Microcerotermes strunckii). N. corniger and dry wood termite was responsible for 66.9% and 33.1% for infestations in HB and 29.7% and 72.3% in the RB, respectively. The economic impact for these infestations was estimated at 609,956.03 USD. No correlation between the quantity of infestations and the age of the buildings was found; nor was there a correlation between the humidity and the number of infestations. However, the infestations of the RB correlated with humidity. Possibly the absence of preventative mechanisms of infestation control, along with the loss of natural habitat of these insects caused by urban expansion, explain the high indicators of registered infestations. Sociobiology An international journal on social insects