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Rudolf H. Scheffrahn

Professor of Entomology

University of Florida

Created in 2019

Peru 2014.JPG

Crossing the Andes: Peru 2014.  My last major termite expedition.

About me

My graduate studies focused on the chemical ecology of drywood termite feeding deterrents and the defensive secretions of desert termites. My first taxonomic paper on termites (with Dr. Mike Rust) was a 1983 redescription of Tenuirostritermes cinereus from Texas. Since then, I have authored or coauthored dozens of taxonomic works on many termite groups from all over the world. Unbelievably for such an important insect Order, I am currently the only termite taxonomist in North American.  Other research directly or indirectly related to termites includes fumigant efficacy and residue analysis, termite prevention and control, and cooperative research projects with many colleagues in disciplines other than Entomology including Molecular Taxonomy, Nematology, Protozoology, Microbiology, Geomatics, Primatology, and Archeology (see references below).

Termite Collection
I have had the opportunity to assemble the largest contemporary collection (post-1985) in the world with over 44,000 colony samples (University of Florida Termite Collection, Davie, FL) acquired during over 100 expeditions to 39 countries. Without the great field support of many colleagues this collection would not have been possible. Professionals from the pest control industry have also contributed many valuable structure-infesting specimens to the collection. Collection data are digitized and can be sorted and mapped for any purpose. Over 1,000 samples have been submitted for CO1 sequencing to the Barcode of Life Data Systems for clarification of morphological variation within new termite genera and species.

 

School of Structural Fumigation
From 2004 to 2017, I coordinated the UF School of Structural Fumigation which is biannual week-long professional training program. Over 1,200 students have attended this unique program from all over the world.

http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/fumigation

UF Termite Collection U.S. Localities

UFTC U.S. locality map 9MAY24.JPG
Education

EDUCATION

  • University of California, Riverside, BS Entomology, 1978

  • University of California, Riverside, MS Entomology, 1981

  • University of California, Riverside, PhD Entomology (Chemistry minor), 1984

Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites

 Evidence and Damage: Drywood Termites

 Evidence and Damage: Subterranean Termites

 Evidence and Damage: Wood Decay

 Evidence and Damage: Arboreal (Nasute) Termites

Field Damage ID
Key to Florida Termite Genera
Key figures

Keys to Florida Termite Genera based on the soldier (A) or the winged imago (B)

 

A. Soldiers.

1. Nasutiform, i.e., head distinctly modified by long frontal projection; mandibles  

    reduced to non-functional stubs; arboreal; Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae (Fig.1)                       ……..…………………………………….…………………………......................Nasutitermes

-  Head not distinctly modified by long frontal projection; mandibles well developed;

   subterranean or wood dwelling (Figs. 2-9) ….……………………………..….......….............2

2. Pronotum as wide as head; wood-nesting; Kalotermitidae (Figs. 2-6)…….........……...….3

-   Pronotum narrower than head; Rhinotermitidae or Termitidae (Figs. 7-9)……...……...…7

3. Head blackish, subquadrate or phragmotic, (Figs. 2,3).……………………...….....….....…4

-  Head orangish, rectangular; mandibles projecting far beyond labrum (Figs. 3-6).…. ..….5

4. Fore tibia lacking large spur (Fig. 2)…………………………………........….....Cryptotermes

-   Fore tibia with large spur; pseudergates with mesonotal rasp (Fig. 3)...…....Calcaritermes

5. Anterior margin of pronotum rounded; pronotum collar-like, much wider than long,                 third antennal article only slightly enlarged (Figs. 4-5).……………………………........……6

-  Anterior margin of pronotum angular; pronotume shield-like, slightly wider than long, third    antennal article enlarged, club-like (Fig. 6)...........................................................Incisitermes

6.  Soldier large, head width greater than 2 mm, basal mandibular humps slight to moderate      (Fig. 4)........................................................................................................................Neotermes

- Soldier smaller, head width ca. 1.4 mm, basal mandibular humps pronounced (Fig. 5)              …………………...……......……….…...........................................................…...........Kalotermes

7.  Pronotum saddle-shaped in lateral view (Termitidae: Termitinae), blade of each mandible       with single marginal tooth (Fig. 9)………………..…….……..….............................Amitermes

-  Pronotum flat, not saddle-shaped (Rhinotermitidae), blade of each mandible without               marginal teeth (Figs. 7-8)…………………………………………………………...............……8

8.  Head capsule rectangular; fontanelle faint or absent, opening dorsally; mandible blades        straight except for ~ 30-60º curvature in distal one-fourth (Fig. 7A, B)..….….......................9

-  Head capsule narrowed anteriorly; fontanelle distinct, opening to anterior or to dorsum;         mandibles curved ~ 70º in distal one-fourth (Figs. 8A,B).………….....…..............................10

9.  Bases of mandibles slender, blades rather straight (Fig. 7A)…...……..…..…Heterotermes

-    Bases of mandibles broad, left blade S-curved (Fig. 7B)……….......……..…Reticulitermes

10.  Fontanelle large, opens to anterior above labrum (Fig. 8A)…………....…...Coptotermes

-   Fontanelle minute, opens to dorsum on vertex (Fig. 8B)…………....…...…Prorhinotermes

 

B. Winged Imagos.

1. Three or four pigmented and sclerotized veins in costal margin of fore wing; radial sector        with several diagonal anterior branches (except in Calcaritermes); wing membrane                  without setae, Kalotermitidae (Figs. 10, 12-15).……………………….……………….……....2

-   Two pigmented and sclerotized veins in costal margin of wing; setae on wing membrane        absent to heavy, Rhinotermitidae & Termitidae (Figs. 17-21)……….......…...........................4

2. Median vein of fore wing recurved toward and intersecting radial sector at about half of          wing length, except for Cr. brevis (Figs. 10B, 12)..…………….……..................Cryptotermes

-   Median vein of fore wing extending to near wing apex, not intersecting radial sector               (Figs.  10,11) .……………………………………………………............….…................………..3

3. Media pigmented and sclerotized with anterior branches; large species, head width at            eyes > 1.4 mm (Figs. 10A,13).………………………………………….....….............Neotermes

-   Media pigmented without anterior branches, media running very close to radial sector;          smaller species, head width < 1mm (Fig. 15)……….………...................……...Calcaritermes

-   Media unpigmented and unsclerotized, frons convex and smooth; smaller species, head        width at eyes < 1.4 mm (Fig. 14.).…………...……...............……Incisitermes or Kalotermes

4. Scales of anterior wing noticeably larger than, and overlapping posterior scales

     (Rhinotermitidae, Fig. 16A); membrane light brown to unpigmented.………........…….…..5

-   Scales on anterior and posterior wings about equal; anterior scale not overlapping                  posterior scale (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae or Termitinae, Fig. 16B); wing membrane             smoky blackish…….…............................................................................................................….8

5.  Forewing membrane reticulate (Figs. 17-18).…………………...….........……...…….….....…6

-    Forewing membrane smooth (Figs. 19-21)………………………………....……....…........….7

6.  Costal margin straight in middle; median vein present (Fig. 17)…..….......…Reticulitermes

-    Costal margin arched in middle; median vein absent (Fig. 18)……....….....Prorhinotermes

7.  Wing membrane with few hairs; smaller species (Fig. 19)…..…....…..……....Heterotermes

-    Wing membrane with many hairs; larger species (Fig. 20)……...….......……..Coptotermes

8. Larger species; right fore wing length ca. 11 mm (Fig. 21A)………......…........Nasutitermes

-  Smaller species; right fore wing length ca. 7 mm (Fig. 21B)……..…..…..........…..Amitermes

Florida Termite Key Figures

Termites of the United States

Archotermopsidae, primitive dampwood termites

Family Kalotermitidae ("drywood" termites)

Family Rhinotermitidae (subterranean termites)

Family Termitidae (higher termites)

Some of my favorite field photos

High-Res Montage Photomicrographs

Expedition Posters

Panama 2005

Field macrophotography becomes practical

Termites of the U.S.A.
favorites
Photomicrographs
Expedition Posters
Expeditions

Guatemala 2006

Honduras 2007

Venezuela 2007

Venezuela 2008

Enteric valves

Colombia 2009

Contact

Panama 2010

Ecuador 2011

Paraguay 2012

Bolivia 2013

Peru 2014

Enteric valve armature of New World soldierless termites (Apicotermitinae)

(names with "x" prefix are my unpublished manuscript names)

Contact

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