Resumen La mayoría de las termitas plagas de área urbana en Brasil son especies exóticas, pero algunas especies nativas también están comenzando a representar un problema creciente. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar las especies de termitas que infestan árboles y casas en la ciudad de Campos dos Goytacazes, en el norte del estado de Río de Janeiro. Los árboles de calles de dieciséis vecindarios fueron inspeccionados y los ataques por termitas fueron registrados. También se realizaron entrevistas con propietarios de residencias de los mismos vecindarios y sus domicilios fueron inspeccionados para verificar la ocurrencia de ataque de termitas. Las termitas fueron registradas en 17 % de los 1.307 árboles inspeccionados. La especie más frecuente fue Coptotermes gestroi (51 % de los árboles infestados), Nasutitermes corniger y Microcerotermes strunckii fueron especies de ocurrencia intermedia (38 % y 14 %, respectivamente) y Microcerotermes arboreus (1 %) fue la menos común. Las infestaciones de árboles por más de una especie ocurrieron en 14 % de los casos (n = 31). Las infestaciones de termitas también se presentaron en 26 % de las residencias inspeccionadas (n = 1.020). Las cuatro especies que causaron daños en domicilios fueron Cryptotermes brevis, C. gestroi, N. corniger y M. strunckii. La especie más común, encontrada en 133 residencias, fue C. brevis (51 %). C. gestroi y N. corniger pueden ser consideradas especies secundarias en términos de la presencia en las residencias pero fueron responsables por más daños estructurales que C. brevis que atacó principalmente el mobiliario.

Abstract Most pest termites in urban areas in Brazil are exotic species, but native species are becoming an increasing problem. This study aimed to identify termite species infesting trees and houses in urban areas of Campos dos Goytacazes, in the north of Rio de Janeiro State. Trees in the streets of sixteen neighborhoods were inspected for termites. Inspections and interviews were also conducted to verify the occurrence of termites in houses. Termites were recorded in 17 % of the 1,307 trees surveyed. Coptotermes gestroi was the most frequent species (51 % of infested trees), Nasutitermes corniger and Microcerotermes strunckii were present in 38 % and 14 % of infested trees, respectively, and Microcerotermes arboreus was the least common (1 %). Different termite species coexisted in 14 % of the infested trees (n = 31). Termite infestations were recorded in 26 % of the surveyed households (n = 1,020). Four species were identified as causing damage: Cryptotermes brevis, C. gestroi, N. corniger, and M. strunckii. The most common species was C. brevis, affecting 133 residences (51 %). C. gestroi and N. corniger were less frequent, but they were responsible for more structural damage than C. brevis, which mainly attacked furniture.

Termite societies are structured by individuals that can be grouped into castes and instars. The development of these instars in most species occurs in irregular patterns and sometimes is distinguished subcastes in physical systems that originate polymorphic soldiers and workers. In this study, we characterized the morphological diversity of castes of apterous in Nasutitermes corniger. We collected four colonies of N. corniger, one every three months between May 2011 and February 2012. Individuals of the nest were separated into groups: larval stages, workers and presoldiers and soldiers. A morphometric analysis was performed on individuals from each group based on head width, metatibia, antenna, and thorax length. The data were submitted to discriminant analysis to confirm different morphological types inside these groups. The apterous line of N. corniger is composed of one first larval instar and two second larval instar. The workers caste has two lines of development with four instars in a larger line and three instars in a lower line. Two morphological types were identified in presoldiers and soldiers. The pattern of castes was similar to other species of the genus, in which bifurcation into two lines of workers, one smaller and one larger occurs after the first molt.