Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T19:04:44.980Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Foraging in subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): how do Heterotermes tenuis and Coptotermes gestroi behave when they locate equivalent food resources?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 April 2014

J.T. Lima  and
A.M. Costa-Leonardo
J.T. Lima*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
A.M. Costa-Leonardo
Affiliation:
Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP – Univ Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brazil
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +55 19 997175738 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A previous research suggests that when subterranean termites locate equivalent food they consume the initial food resource. However, little is known about the movement of foragers among these food sources. For this reason, this study analyzed the feeding behavior of Heterotermes tenuis and Coptotermes gestroi in the presence of equivalent foods. The experimental arenas were composed of a release chamber connected to food chambers. The consumption of each wood block and percentage of the foraging individuals recruited for the food chambers were observed in relation to the total survival rate. The results showed that in the multiple-choice tests, wood block consumptions and the recruitment of individuals did not differ between replicates of each termite species. However, in different tests of tenacity, the chambers with the first food presented higher feeding rates by both H. tenuis and C. gestroi and resulted in a higher recruitment of workers and soldiers. In these conditions, it may be concluded that foragers of either species do not concentrate their efforts on the consumption of only one food resource when they are able to reach multiple cellulosic sources simultaneously. Additionally, the data concerning tenacity tests suggest that there is a chronologic priority of consumption in relation to the discovery of available food sources. Knowledge about the foraging biology of subterranean termites is important for future studies of their feeding behavior, and it is indispensable for improving control strategies.

Keywords

feeding behaviorforaging behaviorresource fidelitysubterranean termitestenacitywood consumption
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 104 , Issue 4 , August 2014 , pp. 525 - 533
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

†

Current address: Departamento de Biologia, UNESP, Avenida 24-A, 1515 – Bela Vista – 13506-900, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.

References

Ahmed, B.M. & French, J.R.J. (2008) An overview of termite control methods in Australia and their link to aspects of termite biology and ecology. Pakistan Entomologist 30, 101–118.Google Scholar
Almeida, J.E.M., Alves, S.B., Moino, A. Jr. & Lopes, R.B. (1998) Controle do cupim subterrâneo Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen) com iscas Termitrap® impregnadas com inseticidas e associadas ao fungo entomopatogênico Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. Anais da Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil 27, 639–644.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arab, A. & Costa-Leonardo, A.M. (2005) Effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the tunneling behavior of Coptotermes gestroi and Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Behavioural Processes 70, 32–40.Google Scholar
Araújo, R.L. (1986) Térmitas prejudiciais às madeiras. pp. 100–123 in Mariconi, F.A.M., Zamitti, A.P.L., Araújo, R.L., Oliveira Filho, A.M. & Pinchin, R. (Eds) Inseticidas e Seu Emprego no Controle às Pragas, 2nd edn, vol. 3. São Paulo, Nobel.Google Scholar
Ayres, M., Ayres, M. Jr., Ayres, D.L. & Santos, A.A.S. (2007) BioEstat: Aplicações Estatísticas Nas Áreas Das Ciências Bio-Médicas. Tefé, Sociedade Civil Mamirauá.Google Scholar
Bandeira, A.G., Gomes, J.I., Lisboa, P.L.B. & Souza, P.C.S. (1989) Insetos pragas de madeiras de edificações em Belém, Pará. Boletim de Pesquisa 101, 1–25.Google Scholar
Bardunias, P., Su, N.Y. & Yang, R.L. (2010) Behavioral variation among tunnelers in the Formosan subterranean termite. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 13, 45–49.Google Scholar
Costa-Leonardo, A.M. (2002) Cupins-Praga: Morfologia, Biologia e Controle. Rio Claro, Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo.Google Scholar
Costa-Leonardo, A.M. (2008) Dinâmica do forrageamento em cupins subterrâneos. pp. 347–358 in Vilela, E.F., Santos, I.A., Schoereder, J.H., Serrão, J.E., Campos, L.A.O. & Lino-Neto, J. (Eds) Insetos Sociais: Da Biologia à Aplicação. Viçosa, Editora UFV.Google Scholar
Costa-Leonardo, A.M., Casarin, F.E. & Camargo-Dietrich, C.R.R. (2007) Identificação e práticas de manejo de cupins em áreas urbanas. pp. 41–53 in Pinto, A.S., Rossi, M.M. & Salmeron, E. (Eds) Manejo de Pragas Urbanas. Piracicaba, CP2.Google Scholar
Delaplane, K.S. & La Fage, J.P. (1987) Variance in feeding on equivalent wood blocks by Formosan subterranean termite in laboratory choice tests. Sociobiology 13, 227–233.Google Scholar
Delaplane, K.S. & La Fage, J.P. (1989 a) Foraging tenacity of Reticulitermes flavipes and Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 16, 183–189.Google Scholar
Delaplane, K.S. & La Fage, J.P. (1989 b) Preference for moist wood by the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 82, 95–100.Google Scholar
Emlen, J.M. (1973) Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach. Reading, MA, Addison-Wesley.Google Scholar
Esenther, G.R. (1979) Termite bioassays show greatly varied tolerance to insecticides in bait blocks. Forest Products Journal 29, 55–56.Google Scholar
Evans, T.A. (2002) Tunnel specificity and forager movement in subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 92, 193–201.Google Scholar
Evans, T.A. (2006) Foraging and building in subterranean termites: tasks switchers or reserve labourers? Insectes Sociaux 53, 56–64.Google Scholar
Fei, H. & Henderson, G. (2002) Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) wood consumption and worker survival as affected by temperature and soldier proportion. Environmental Entomology 31, 509–514.Google Scholar
Fei, H. & Henderson, G. (2004) Effects of temperature, directional aspects, light conditions, and termite species on subterranean termite activity (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Environmental Entomology 33, 242–248.Google Scholar
Fontes, L.R. (1995) Cupins em áreas urbanas. pp. 57–75 in Berti-Filho, E. & Fontes, L.R. (Eds) Alguns Aspectos Atuais Da Biologia e Controle de Cupins. Piracicaba, FEALQ.Google Scholar
French, J.R.J., Robinson, P.J. & Ewart, D.M. (1986) Mound colonies of Coptotermes lacteus (Isoptera) eat cork in preference to sound wood. Sociobiology 11, 303–309.Google Scholar
Garcia, J.F., Macedo, L.P.M. & Botelho, P.S.M. (2004) Inimigo ao pé. Cultivar Grandes Culturas 67, 18–26.Google Scholar
Grace, J.K. (1996) Temporal and spatial variation in caste proportions in a northern Reticulitermes flavipes colony (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 28, 225–231.Google Scholar
Grace, J.K. & Campora, C.E. (2005) Food location and discrimination by subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). pp. 437–441 in Lee, C.Y. & Robinson, W.H. (Eds) Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Urban Pests. Malaysia, Perniagaan Ph'ng @ P&Y Design Network.Google Scholar
Green, J.M., Scharf, M.E. & Bennett, G.W. (2005) Impacts of soil moisture level on consumption and movement of three sympatric subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in a laboratory assay. Journal of Economic Entomology 98, 933–937.Google Scholar
Hapukotuwa, N.K. & Grace, K. (2012) Do tunnel patterns of Coptotermes formosanus and Coptotermes gestroi (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) reflect different foraging strategies? Sociobiology 59, 189–202.Google Scholar
Hedlund, J.C. & Henderson, G. (1999) Effect of available food size on search tunnel formation by the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 92, 610–616.Google Scholar
Jones, S.C., Trosset, M.W. & Nutting, W.L. (1987) Biotic and abiotic influences on foraging of Heterotermes aureus (Snyder) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Environmental Entomology 16, 791–795.Google Scholar
Kirton, L.G. & Brown, V.K. (2003) The taxonomic status of pest species of Coptotermes in Southeast Asia: resolving the paradox in the pest status of the termites, Coptotermes gestroi, C. havilandi and C. travians (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 42, 43–63.Google Scholar
Kirton, L.G. & Wong, A.H.H. (2001) The economic importance and control of termite infestations in relation to plantation forestry and wood preservation in Peninsular Malaysia – an overview. Sociobiology 37, 325–349.Google Scholar
Krebs, J.R. (1978) Optimal foraging decision rules for predators. pp. 23–63 in Krebs, J.R. & Davies, N.B. (Eds) Behavioral Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach. Oxford, Blackwell.Google Scholar
Lee, C.Y. (2007) Perspective in Urban Insect Pest Management in Malaysia. Penang, Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Vector Control Research Unit..Google Scholar
Lelis, A.T. (1995) A nest of Coptotermes havilandi (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) off ground level, found in the 20th story of a building in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Sociobiology 26, 241–245.Google Scholar
Lenz, M. (1994) Food resources, colony growth and caste development in wood-feeding termites. pp. 159–209 in Hunt, J.H. & Nalepa, C.A. (Eds) Nourishment and Evolution in Insect Societies. Oxford, Westview Press.Google Scholar
Lenz, M. & Evans, T.A. (2002) Termite bait technology: perspectives from Australia. pp. 27–36 in Jones, S.C., Zhai, J. & Robinson, W.H. (Eds) Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Urban Pests. Blacksburg, VA, Pocahontas Press Inc.Google Scholar
Lenz, M., Preston, A.F., Creffield, J.W., Archer, K., Kard, B.M., Vongkaluang, C. & Sornnuwat, Y. (1998) International comparison of three methods for assessing the in-ground termite resistance of treated timber, durable timber and plastics at sites in Australia, USA and Thailand – first results. International Research Group on Wood Preservation. Doc. No.IRG/WP/98-20132. Secretariat, Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Lenz, M., Creffield, J.W., Evans, T.A., Kard, B.M., Vongkaluang, C., Sornnuwat, Y. & Preston, A.F. (2003) International comparison of three methods for assessing the in-ground termite resistance of preservative-treated and untreated wood to termites and fungal decay – summary of observations after five years. International Research Group on Wood Preservation. Doc. No.IRG/WP/98-20261. Secretariat, Stockholm, Sweden.Google Scholar
Lenz, M., Kard, B., Evans, T.A., Mauldin, J.K., Etheridge, J.L. & Abbey, H.M. (2009) Differential use of identical food resources by Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in two types of habits. Environmental Entomology 38, 35–42.Google Scholar
Lima, J.T. & Costa-Leonardo, A.M. (2006) Interspecific interactions between Coptotermes gestroi and Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) under laboratory conditions. Sociobiology 48, 759–770.Google Scholar
Lima, J.T. & Costa-Leonardo, A.M. (2012) Subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): exploitation of equivalent food resources with different forms of placement. Insect Science 19, 412–418.Google Scholar
Long, C.E. & Thorne, B.L. (2006) Resource fidelity, brood distribuition and foraging dynamics in complete laboratory colonies of Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae). Ethology Ecology & Evolution 18, 113–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mill, A. (1991) Termites as structural pests in Amazonia, Brazil. Sociobiology 19, 339–348.Google Scholar
Pizano, M.A. & Fontes, L.R. (1986) Ocorrência de Heterotermes tenuis (Hagen, 1858) e Heterotermes longiceps (Snyder, 1924) (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) atacando cana-de-açúcar no Brasil. Brasil Açucareiro 104, 29.Google Scholar
Su, N.Y. & Bardunias, P. (2005) Foraging behavior of subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): food discovery and movement of termites within established galleries. pp. 443 –445 in Lee, C.Y. & Robinson, W.H. (Eds) Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Urban Pests. Malaysia, Perniagaan Ph'ng @ P&Y Design Network.Google Scholar
Su, N.Y. & La Fage, J.P. (1984) Comparison of laboratory methods for estimating wood consumption rates by Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Annals of Entomological Society of America 77, 125–129.Google Scholar
Su, N.Y. & Scheffrahn, R.H. (1998) A review of subterranean termite control practices and prospects for integrated pest management programs. Integrated Pest Management Reviews 3, 1–13.Google Scholar
Su, N.Y. & Scherer, P.N. (2003) Feeding site selection by workers of the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) – a reanalysis of field data from mark-recapture study. Bulletin of Entomological Research 93, 467–473.Google Scholar
Su, N.Y., Tamashiro, M., Yates, J.R. & Haverty, M.I. (1984) Foraging behavior of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Environmental Entomology 13, 1466–1470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thorne, B.L., Traniello, J.F.A., Adams, E.S. & Bulmer, M. (1999) Reproductive dynamics and colony structure of subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): a review of the evidence from behavioral, ecological, and genetic studies. Ethology Ecology and Evolution 11, 149–169.Google Scholar
Traniello, J.F.A. & Leuthold, R.H. (2000) Behavior and ecology of foraging in termites. pp. 141–168 in Abe, T., Bignell, D.E. & Higashi, M. (Eds) Termites: Evolution, Sociality, Symbioses, Ecology. New York, Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waller, D.A. (1988) Host selection in subterranean termites: factors affecting choice (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 14, 5–13.Google Scholar
Waller, D.A. & La Fage, J.P. (1987 a) Food quality and foraging response by the subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 77, 417–424.Google Scholar
Waller, D.A. & La Fage, J.P. (1987 b) Nutritional ecology of termites. pp. 487–532 in Stansly, F. Jr. & Rodriguez, J.G. (Eds) Nutritional Ecology of Insects, Mites, and Spiders. New York, Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Wong, N. & Lee, C.Y. (2010) Influence of different substrate moistures on wood consumption and movement patterns of Microcerotermes crassus and Coptotermes gestroi (Blattodea: Termitidae, Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 103, 437–442.Google Scholar
Woodrow, R.J., Sheldon, T.G., Oshiro, R.J., Grace, J.K. & Wagner, T.L. (2008) Effects of disturbance-induced trauma on foraging by subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 52, 107–118.Google Scholar
Yang, R.L., Su, N.Y. & Bardunias, P. (2009) Individual task load in tunnel excavation by the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Annals of Entomological Society of America 102, 906–910.Google Scholar