A new study led by Professor Thomas Schofanek of the University of Florida has shown that ships help dangerous termite species spread across the planet.
These pests include the Formosan ground ant, the Asian ground ant, and the West Indian wood ant.
It was previously believed that termites were transported by natural phenomena, for example, on floating debris that appears after natural disasters such as hurricanes or tsunamis, albeit in limited quantities. Today, however, thanks to maritime transport, private boats have become a major "transportation" for termites, allowing them to invade new territories almost every year. Once these insects colonize a vessel, they can remain undetected for years due to their slow reproductive cycle and secretive lifestyle, causing significant problems later on.
Since 2010, the annual economic damage caused by termite infestations has exceeded $40 billion globally, with Formosan ground ants alone causing between $20.3 and $30 billion in damage. The growth of the yachting and recreational boating industries is exacerbating the problem. Once termites reach a vessel, they can easily migrate to land and colonize new areas, making control even more difficult.
Termites are able to adapt to the urban climate and rely less on natural factors such as protection from predators, as their numbers are lower in cities. Instead, human-created conditions, such as warmer weather, artificial lighting, and a lack of adequate camouflage, make boats ideal migratory environments.
The problem is that boat owners rarely inspect their vessels for termites. The insect infestation often goes undetected until the damage is extensive, but most of the colony has already migrated to land, altering the area's ecosystem.
The results of the study were published in the journal Current Opinion in Insect Science.