Distribution and richness of termites (Blattodea) in Corrientes, Argentina: assessment of the FACENA-UNNE collection as a historical baseline.

Geographical knowledge of species is key to understanding biodiversity. Biological collections are critical infrastructures that preserve historical records essential for assessing responses to environmental changes. Termites (Blattodea) play a decisive ecological role in the soil; however, information gaps persist regarding their distribution in the Argentine Northeast, particularly in the province of Corrientes (Argentina). This study aimed to determine the taxonomic composition and spatial distribution of termite records within the FACENA-UNNE collection, highlighting its strategic value as a scientific heritage and historical baseline. The database of the FACENAC collection (1976–2026) belonging to the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste was analyzed, cleaned, and standardized, focusing on records from Corrientes province. For each record, taxonomic identification, collection date, and georeferenced locality were evaluated. Descriptive data were processed in R, and spatial representation was performed using QGIS. A total of 331 records belonging to 11 termite genera were consolidated. The taxonomic composition was dominated by Cortaritermes (n=76), Cornitermes (n=53), Anoplotermes (n=42), Nasutitermes (n=37), and Termes (n=36). Spatially, records were concentrated across the departments of Ituzaingó (97), San Miguel (45), Santo Tomé (43), Capital department (43), and San Cosme (34). This distribution reflects historical sampling biases and heterogeneous sampling designs over five decades. Despite these geographical limitations, the collection possesses high documentary value and constitutes a fundamental baseline for projecting future surveys. The inventory evidences the taxonomic richness of isopterans in Corrientes, Argentina, and confirms the strategic value of biological collections as active scientific pillars. These systematized data provide an indispensable baseline for understanding the regional distribution of biodiversity and evaluating the ecological role of termites in the Argentine Northeast.