New hybrid kind of super-termites captures the United States - VIDEO In the new study, published in the journal «PLOS One», scientists report that two highly invasive species of termites, Taiwanese and Asian underground underground termite began to interbreed, giving rise to a new kind of extremely powerful and highly adaptive insects that destroy wood. And it was our fault.
Two species of termites, which originally existed in parts of Asia, spread around the world in the holds of cargo ships. Now in the world there are only three of the hearth, where both species were able to gain a foothold: Hawaii, Taiwan and South Florida, but usually the mating season of these species do not overlap. In Florida, the Asian subterranean termite breed in February, a few months before the start of the breeding season Taiwanese species. However, in 2013 and 2014, scientists noticed mating types in the same time, it has given rise to a large colony of termites hybrids. The researchers note that both years in Florida were characterized by warm, wet winters, and suggest that the offset mating season due to climate warming.
Hybridization between the invasive species is extremely rare, and now scientists want to see, would it be the first generation of new insects are able to reproduce. If so, the worst scenario would be the emergence of a new species of termites that can thrive in climates from North Carolina to Brazil.
But even if the hybrids are not able to reproduce this new kind of become a serious environmental problem. Even without the ability to reproduce colony hybrids represents millions of termites that can live up to 20 years, will pass its way through the countryside and urban sprawl.
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