Visualization and hotspot trend analysis of termite research based on bibliometrics

This study systematically investigates the stage-wise evolution of the knowledge structure in termite research, its trend toward interdisciplinary integration, the contribution and collaboration patterns of major countries and core authors, and the temporal migration of research frontiers, with the aim of providing quantitative evidence to support future development of the field. Bibliometric data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) covering the period 1926–2024. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and R-based bibliometric tools were employed to construct country and author collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence structures, and thematic evolution models. A multi-indicator cross-validation framework was further developed by integrating time-weighted scores (TWₛcore), growth-rate quadrant distribution, annual frequency trajectories, and citation burst detection. A total of 5, 154 publications were included, since 2010, annual publication output has consistently exceeded 200 articles, indicating sustained research activity. At the country and author levels, pronounced concentration patterns were observed. The United States, Japan, China, Brazil, and Germany constitute the core contributing countries, with intensified collaboration particularly between the United States and China in recent years. Core authors have maintained long-term productivity and formed relatively stable research communities. Over nearly a century of development, termite research has transitioned from traditional taxonomy and pest control–dominated studies toward a multidisciplinary phase integrating ecology, biotechnology, and functional mechanisms. Frontier identification results indicate that environmental responses, symbiotic systems and functional processes, colony establishment and reproductive systems, as well as taxonomic and higher-level phylogenetic relationships represent sustained frontier signals in the current stage. Over the past century, termite research has developed on the basis of a stable core knowledge structure, while showing gradual thematic expansion and increasing interdisciplinary integration rather than a disruptive paradigm shift. Scientific output, academic impact, and collaboration patterns display a marked core-concentration structure, whereas research frontiers show clear stage-wise development. This study provides quantitative evidence for understanding the knowledge evolution, collaborative patterns, and frontier development of termite research.