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that the taxonomy of this group is far from
resolved. The recent application of mol-
ecular genetic data, sometimes in combin-
ation with morphological characters,
cuticular hydrocarbon data, and fl ight
phenologies, has helped to clarify sub-
terranean termite taxonomy. A good example
is the species of
Reticulitermes
in the USA,
where up until 7 or 8 years ago there were
six recognized species, whereas now there
are eight, due to the sinking of one species
(
Reticulitermes
arenincola
Goellner =
Reticulitermes
fl avipes
(Kollar) (Austin
et
al.
, 2005)) and the recognition of three new
species,
Reticulitermes
okanaganensis
(Szalanski
et al.
, 2006),
Reticulitermes
malletei
Banks (Austin
et al.
, 2007), and
most recently
Reticulitermes
nelsonae
(Lim
and Forschler, 2012). These changes have
occurred based primarily on molecular
data. Despite the recent advances in sub-
terranean species taxonomy, many more
studies of
Reticulitermes
and
Coptotermes
are needed because these two genera
account for about half of all the described
subterranean species, most of which were
described only in the last 70 years in China
(Eggleton, 1999).
An important contribution of molecular
methods has been the clarifi cation of the
taxonomic status of some invasive sub-
terranean termites. For example, the termite
previously known as
Reticulitermes
santon-
ensis
Feytaud occurs in France, Hamburg,
Germany and Chile, among other locations
around the world. It was thought to be
native to France but based on mitochondrial
DNA (mtDNA) sequence data it has been
shown to be
R. fl avipes
from the USA
(Clément
et al.
, 2001; Uva
et al.
, 2004). And
the invasive species
Coptotermes gestroi
(Wasmann) was previously referred to as
several different species, including
Copto-
termes vastator
Light and
Coptotermes
havilandi
Holmgren, which have now been
synonymized (Kirton and Brown, 2003;
Yeap
et al.
, 2007).
Molecular studies of DNA sequence
variation within and among species have
yielded very useful PCR-based methods for
rapid and accurate species determination
for
Reticulitermes
spp. in the central and
eastern USA (Szalanski
et al.
, 2003; Foster
et al.
, 2004) and for distinguishing
Copto-
termes formosanus
Shiraki from other
species of
Coptotermes
(Szalanski
et al.
,
2004). These methods have distinct advan-
tages over morphological keys: they give
unambiguous results, they can be used with
any caste or developmental stage, and they
can be performed on a single individual.
The application of these methods has
allowed for more accurate determination of
species ranges, detection of species outside
their native areas and determination of the
relative abundance of species in particular
geographic areas (reviewed in Vargo and
Husseneder, 2009), all of which have
important implications for subterranean
termite management. Expanded use of rapid
methods of species identifi cation should
prove immensely useful for improving our
knowledge of the distributions of sub-
terranean termite species.
With the recent resurgence of bed bugs in
developed countries, it is crucial to detect
infestations of these pests early so that they
can be treated before they build up large
populations that are much more diffi cult to
eliminate. Adult and nymphal bed bugs are
nocturnal, however, and can be diffi cult to
detect during the day when most pest
management professionals are conducting
inspections. Szalanski
et al
. (2011) have
developed a molecular technique using
multiplex PCR that allows for identifi cation
of bed bugs from small amounts of material,
such as eggs, degraded bodies that are hard
to identify and body parts. This method
allows for the identifi cation of bed bugs
even when morphological determination is
not possible and should be a valuable tool
in detecting the presence of bed bug
infestations, especially those at an early
stage when intervention measures are most
effective (Pinto
et al.
, 2007).
With the power of molecular genetic
tools and advances in DNA barcoding data,
we most certainly will see these methods
used routinely for species identifi cation for
groups where taxonomic characters are
diffi cult or ambiguous, as well as for detec-
tion using body parts, eggs and exuvia. In
addition, we can expect to see molecular
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