THE DESERT DAMPWOOD TERMITE (ISOPTERA, KALOTERMITIDAE) AS A STRUCTURAL PEST IN THE COLORADO DESERT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

The desert dampwood termite, Paraneotermes simplicicornis (Banks) is f ound in the Colorado and Mojave deserts of California. This termite is often found associated with dead, dying, or living vegetation within its geographic range. It was not considered a pest of structures in th e past. I report an incident where this termite caused significant dam age to a home in Cathedral City, California. With urbanization increas ingly encroaching on both the high and low deserts of California, the desert dampwood termite can be expected to be found with increasing fr equency attacking structures when the right conditions exist for its s urvival.