Abstract Several termite species are considered problematic as urban structural pests since mature colonies grow to thousands to millions of individuals. Yet, each colony begins with a single mating encounter between a female and a male. After seasonal dispersal flights, termite dealates walk to search for a mating partner and a nest site. This initial stage is critical for dispersal, infestation, and invasion success. However, the search dynamics and success of these walking termites remain poorly understood, especially under varying environmental conditions. In this study, I investigated mate-searching and post-pairing dispersal behaviors in Coptotermes formosanus , one of the most damaging subterranean termites, by reanalyzing observations in the experimental arena using a deep-learning posture tracking approach. I show that termites can walk an average of 23 m within 15 min, with estimated displacements up to 18.74 m. Nest-searching tandem pairs showed more directional and stable motion with higher dispersal potential than mate-searching single termites because of the movement coordination. Simulations parameterized by termite observations showed that urban light attraction greatly contributed to the pairing success of termites, even with a low termite population density. These findings suggest that simple movement rules and environmental cues can enhance mating encounters and dispersal, facilitating infestation and invasion. Comparative behavioral studies across termite species may link the movement ecology of termites with their pest status and invasive potential.
Nobuaki Mizumoto (Sun,) studied this question.