Abstract
The termite fauna of Saudi Arabia is predominantly subterranean and comprises 9 genera and 18 species in 4 families. The primitive families Kalotermitidae, Hodotermitidae and Rhinotermitidae represent one third of the genera (33.3%) and 6 species (33.3%) while the remaining fauna of 6 genera (66.7%) and 12 species (66.6%) belong to the most advanced family, Termitidae. The fauna is basically of Ethiopian origin (57.9%), Palaearctic (26.3%), Oriental (10.5%) while only 5.3% is of obscure origin. A rich fauna of endemic species composed of 16 species (88.9%) is widely spread in the major ecosystem (hot and and desert) and shows a wide adaptability to varied ecological conditions of soil, vegetation, rainfall, terrain and land forms. Genera like Psammotermes, Anacanthotermes, Amitermes and Microtermes are adapted to hot and conditions. Many ecological factors influence termite distribution but vegetation and soil type remain the most important. The western, central, and southern regions of Saudi Arabia have a varied termite fauna which is encountered on a diverse groups of dead and living plants. Microtermes najdensis Harris is considered an economic pest on crops (mostly tomatoes, peppers, and okra) in the Jizan area and it has been recovered from field crops in the western and central regions. Recent surveys revealed the presence of dry wood termites in the Western region (Makkah AI-Mukarramah and Jeddah cities) most probably introduced with wood and timber imports from abroad.