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Glyptotermes Froggatt, 1897 (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae) is represented by two recorded species in Taiwan, namely G. fuscus Oshima, 1912, and G. satsumensis (Matsumura, 1907). However, there has been a lack of comprehensively survey taxonomic reviews on Glyptotermes in Taiwan for nearly a century. In order to address this gap and update the taxonomy of Glyptotermes species in Taiwan, we examined 281 colony specimens collected from Taiwan Island and its offshore islands. Morphological and molecular analyses based on 16S rDNA and COI were conducted, resulting in three distinct species: G. fuscus, G. satsumensis, and a new species named Glyptotermes albofemoralis sp. nov. The winged imago and soldier castes of the three species are described. A male winged imago of G. fuscus collected from the type locality is designated as the neotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neotermes koshunensis (Shiraki, 1909) (Blattodea: Kalotermitidae) has been recorded in Taiwan, China, and Ryukyu Islands (Japan). However, Yashiro et al. clarified all Neotermes samples from Ryukyu Islands was a cryptic species in the Neotermes koshunensis species complex and hence further described it as a new species, N. sugioi Yashiro, 2019. To revise the identity and taxonomy of Neotermes spp. in Taiwan, this study examines 370 specimens which were collected from Taiwan Island and its offshore islands from 2006 to 2022. According to phylogenetic results reconstructed by using nucleotide sequences of two mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA and COI) and one nuclear gene (ITS2), three lineages were recognized. The three lineages represent N. koshunensis, N. sugioi as a new record species to Taiwan, and a new species Neotermes ludaoensis sp. nov. The winged imago and soldier castes of the three Neotermes species are described. A male winged imago of N. koshunensis collected from its type locality is designated as neotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The winged imago of Prorhinotermes japonicus (Holmgren 1912) is described herein for the first time. The soldier caste and two morphs of the neotenic caste also are redescribed. Based on the similar morphology of soldier, alate and neotenic, two Chinese species, Prorhinotermes xishaensis Li & Tsai 1976 and Prorhinotermes hainanensis Ping & Xu 1989, are reverted to junior synonyms of P. japonicus. The current distribution of P. japonicus includes tropical islands surrounding the northern part of the South China Sea. Another Chinese species, Prorhinotermes spectabilis Ping & Xu 1989 from Yunnan Province and two Philippines species, Prorhinotermes tibiaoensis (Oshima 1920) and Prorhinoternws gracilis Light 1921, were compared and included in discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purposes of this study include the following: (1) establishing professional development criteria for hospitality teachers in vocational schools; (2) developing a self-rating scale for hospitality teacher professional development; and (3) constructing a combined teaching observation checklist. Through analysis of the related literature, a draft of the criteria was established and approved by 6 scholars and experts and 117 teachers from food and beverage or tourism departments. Furthermore, the teacher evaluation criteria were developed into the standards and indicators of the self-rating and teaching observation checklists. Implications are made for improving hospitality teachers' performance and developing professional teacher evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kalotermes inamurae Oshima 1912 (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae) is reassigned to Incisitermes (Krishna, 1961) based on the winged imago that is described herein for the first time. The two size morphs of the soldier caste are redescribed, as is the distinctly different morphology of the soldier of incipient colonies. The distribution of L inamurae is restricted to the tropical zone of Taiwan. Another tropical species, Incisitermes mcgregori (Light), from Luzon, Philippines, has similar soldier morphology and may be a junior synonym of L inamurae. The five Incisitermes species reported in Japan, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines were compared morphologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, 1909 (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), is a well-known pest of wood structures. Its native range has been widely investigated for potential implications for pest control strategies. Termitophilous staphylinid species of the genera Japanophilus Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 and Sinophilus Kistner, 1985 found in nests of C. formosanus have been used to infer the native range of their host termite. Herein, we extend the range of these two genera to include Taiwan, the type locality of C. formosanus. Taiwanese specimens were identifi ed as J. hojoi Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 and S. yukoae Maruyama & Iwata, 2002 based on morphological and molecular data. The fi rst-instar larva of J. hojoi is described, the fi rst known immature stage of the tribe Termitohospitini (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the result of a field survey of termites in Lanyu Island, Taiwan. Researchers collected 24 termite colony samples from various locations in the island. They were able to record 6 species in 6 genera and 3 families. The species include Cryptotermes domesticus, Neotermes koshunensis, Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flaviceps. They explain that the survey of the termites of the island resulted in confirmation of the island's fauna to 6 species in 6 genera and 3 families.

The termite family Stylotermitidae consists of a single extant genus, Stylotermes, present only in eastern Asia. Stylotermes has distinctively trimerous tarsi and is considered an intermediate between the Rhinotermitidae and Kalotermitidae families. The present study reports the first discovery of the Stylotermitidae family in Taiwan. On the basis of a comparison between the Taiwanese samples and the original descriptions of all the other 44 Stylotermes species, a new species collected from eastern Taiwan is described as Stylotermes halumicus sp. nov. This study is the first to report the gene sequence and detailed morphological descriptions of the winged imago, soldier, and worker of a single Stylotermes sp. Furthermore, a preliminary review of the Stylotermes taxonomy is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between satellite-derived low cloud frequency and the occurrence of tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF) in Taiwan was investigated. From daily MODIS cloud mask products between 2003 and 2012 the low cloud class was extracted and mean low cloud frequency was calculated for Taiwan. This low cloud frequency map was blended with an existing plot-based vegetation classification for Taiwan to analyze the relationship between low cloud frequency and TMCF occurrence. Receiver operating characteristics curves and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) were used to analyze if a relationship exists. No relationship was found for all four TMCF types taken together (AUC = 0.61) and for the dominant TMCF type, Quercus montane evergreen broad-leaved cloud forest (AUC = 0.5). Strong relationships were found for the two spatially-restricted TMCF types, Fagus montane deciduous broad-leaved cloud forest (AUC = 0.91) and Pasania- Elaeocarpus montane evergreen broad-leaved forest (AUC = 0.84), as well as for the second dominant type Chamaecyparis montane mixed cloud forest (AUC = 0.74). The results show that low cloud frequency thresholds might be associated with specific cloud forest types in Taiwan. Further studies should incorporate information about cloud base height, cloud density, and cloud immersion time as well as satellite-based cloud frequency information with a higher temporal resolution. Combination with satellite-based land cover classifications for Taiwan would allow quasi-continuous observation of TMCF changes. Such knowledge would be the precondition for effective protective actions concerning this exceptional but threatened ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore the natural course of diabetic retinopathy among type 2 diabetics using the indirect ophthalmoscope and single-field fundus photographs in Kinmen, Taiwan. Methods: A screening program for diabetic retinopathy was carried out by a panel of ophthalmologists, who employed the ophthalmoscope and 45-degree retinal color photographs to examine the fundus after pupil dilation. Screening, which was conducted between 1999 and 2002, involved 971 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. A multi-state Markov model was used to assess the natural course of diabetic retinopathy among type 2 diabetics. Results: Among the 725 diabetes patients who attended at least two ophthalmological fundus check-ups and were screened, the overall response rate was about 75%. The mean duration of the disease states mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy were 4.05 [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.28–5.32], 4.18 (95% CI: 3.18–6.06), 2.52 (95% CI: 1.78–4.27), and 4.22 (95% CI: 2.88–7.81) years, respectively. Compared to controls, the incidence of blindness reduction for annual, biennial, 3-year, 4-year, and 5-year screenings of diabetic retinopathy were approximately 94.4% (95% CI: 91.6%–96.3%), 83.9% (95% CI: 83.6%–84.2%), 70.2% (95% CI: 69.8%–70.7%), 57.2% (95% CI: 56.7%–57.7%), and 45.6% (95% CI: 45.0%–46.1%), respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, the average time for the development of diabetic retinopathy from nonexistence to blindness was approximately 26.5 years. The present recommendation for annual screening in type 2 diabetics with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy should be retained only for the mild form, not for the moderate or severe forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]