scholarly journals Concentration-Dependent Feeding Deterrence to 20-Hydroxyecdysone for Three Subterranean Termite Species (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 218
Author(s):  
Lucas Carnohan ◽  
Sang-Bin Lee ◽  
Nan-Yao Su

Effective active ingredients in toxicant bait formulations must be non-deterrent to insect feeding behavior at lethal concentrations. This study evaluated feeding deterrence for Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, C. gestroi (Wasmann), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) when provided access to cellulose impregnated with various concentrations of the insect molting hormone, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). Termites were exposed to 20E concentrations of 200, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm and to noviflumuron at 5000 ppm in a 24 h choice-test, and the mass of substrate consumption from treated and untreated media pads was compared for each treatment. 20E feeding deterrence was detected at 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm for C. gestroi, and at 2000 ppm for C. formosanus. No significant differences in consumption of treated and untreated substrate was detected at any concentration for R. flavipes. Potential methods for reducing deterrence are discussed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-458
Author(s):  
G. B. Lindsey ◽  
T. L. Amburgey ◽  
H. M. Barnes

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine if the same soldier:worker ratio could be used in the eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) and the Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus) in standard tests. Native (R. flavipes) and introduced (C. formosanus) subterranean termite species were tested in an American Wood Protection Association E1 standard laboratory test. Statistically equivalent weight losses were found as long as the ratio was within 10 percent of the rate required by the standard.


2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 109-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf H. Scheffrahn ◽  
Nan-Yao Su ◽  
James A. Chase ◽  
Brian T. Forschler

Deliberate surveys and submitted samples have yielded five termite species not previously recorded from Georgia including Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Family Rhinotermitidae), and Calcaritermes nearcticus (Snyder), Cryptotermes brevis (Walker), Incisitermes minor (Hagen), and Kalotermes approximatus Snyder (Family Kalotermitidae) bringing the total number of termite species in Georgia to nine. Coptotermes formosanus, C. brevis, and I. minor are all non-endemic pest species in Georgia. The Georgia records for C. nearcticus are the first outside of Florida and represent new northern limits, while collections of K. approximatus bridge a former gap in its north-south distribution. Previous records for Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), R. hageni Banks, and R. virginicus (Banks) (Family Rhinotermitidae), and Incisitermes snyderi (Light) (Kalotermitidae) are confirmed, while the name R. malletei is relegated to nomen nudum status. The prospects for additional termite records and status of Reticulitermes taxonomy in Georgia are discussed.


Sociobiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverly Wiltz

Two subterranean termite species were subjected to combinations of six temperatures (10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, or 35°C) and five relative humidities (RH) (55, 65, 75, 85, or 99%) to determine optimum conditions for survival. When small groups of the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki or the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) were exposed to all 30 combinations of temperature and RH, survival times were significantly influenced by temperature, RH, and their interaction. For both species, survival times were longest at low temperatures and high RH. Maximum survival of small groups of C. formosanus and R. flavipes workers and soldiers occurred at the combination of 10°C and 99% RH C (LT50= 28.2 d, LT50 = 18.1 d, respectively). Survival of paired C. formosanus dealates was evaluated at combinations of 20°, 25°, or 30°C and 55, 65, 75, 85, or 99% RH. Survival was strongly influenced by temperature and humidity. Longest survival times until 50% mortality occurred at 99% RH and 20° or 25°C (LT50= 2.5 d, LT50 = 3.0 d, respectively). At all temperatures, mortality occurred too quickly for LT50 values to be determined when RH was 55% or 65%.


Nematology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Scheffrahn ◽  
Robin Giblin-Davis ◽  
Barbara Center ◽  
Natsumi Kanzaki

AbstractA survey of termite-associated nematodes was done in southern Florida to compare the diversity of such associations with other latitudes in the Neotropics. Six species (15 colonies) of termites (Isoptera) were collected from the field and eight species (15 colonies) from laboratory populations were examined for nematode associates. All six field-collected termite species, Cryptotermes cavifrons, Incisitermes snyderi, Neotermes jouteli, N. castaneus, Prorhinotermes simplex and Reticulitermes flavipes, representing two families (Kalotermitidae and, for the latter two species, Rhinotermitidae), were associated with nematodes. Nematodes were also isolated from laboratory populations of I. snyderi and Coptotermes formosanus. In total, seven putative species of nematodes were discerned using molecular bar-coding and culturing (when successful) including four rhabditids, one diplogastrid, Rhabditis rainai and a nematode that we are describing herein as Poikilolaimus floridensis n. sp. This nematode was isolated as dauer juveniles in the foregut of N. jouteli, N. castaneus and I. snyderi. It was recovered from workers, a soldier and an alate, suggesting internal phoresy. It is characterised by six triangular cuticular flaps covering the stomatal opening, simple tube-like stomatal structure, i.e., absence of teeth and glottoid apparatus, cuticularised and refractile secretory-excretory pore, conical male tail lacking 'bursa' or spike, short and conical female tail and didelphic female reproductive system. Poikilolaimus floridensis n. sp. is morphologically characteristic and does not easily fit the current genus definition of Poikilolaimus which is redefined herein. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on near full length SSU ribosomal DNA sequence showed that the new species occupies a basal position in the genus.


1988 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan-Yao Su ◽  
Rudolf H. Scheffrahn ◽  
Paul Ban

Workers of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) were force-fed a dye marker, Sudan Red 7B, and confined with different proportions of unmarked termites. No significant mortality due to the dye was detected for up to 8 weeks after the treatment in either species. The marked/unmarked proportion did not affect the retention of the dye or mortality. Workers of C. formosanus retained visible dye for 6 weeks, while significant numbers (10–50%) of marked R. flavipes lost the dye within two weeks. Sudan Red 7B is suitable for estimating population size of C. formosanus with the multiple-marking method where the mark-recapture period extends to 6 weeks. The dye is not an adequate marker for R. flavipes when the mark-recapture period is ≥ 2 weeks.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nirmala K. Hapukotuwa ◽  
J. Kenneth Grace

Tunneling behavior and the spatial dispersion of tunnels constructed by the subterranean termitesCoptotermes formosanusShiraki andCoptotermes gestroi(Wasmann) (formerly known asC. vastatorLight) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) were examined in foraging arenas. The results indicated that these two termite species construct quantitatively different tunnel systems, supporting visual observations made in earlier studies.Coptotermes gestroiconstructed thin, highly branched tunnels, whileC. formosanustended to construct wider and less branched tunnels. Tunnels ofC. gestroishowed more spatial dispersion than those ofC. formosanus, and this species constructed a larger number of tunnels compared toC. formosanus. The presence or absence of food (wood) within the arena did not influence the tunneling pattern of either species. Although previous observations have suggested that these two termite species exhibit different tunneling behaviors; this is the first quantification of the differences. Comparative studies of the foraging behavior of subterranean termite species contribute to our understanding of their distribution and ecology and may help to improve pest management programs, particularly those based on placement of toxic baits. Moreover, differences in tunneling patterns may reflect different foraging strategies optimized for either tropical (C. gestroi) or subtropical/temperate (C. formosanus) environments.


Holzforschung ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 569-574 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wakako Ohmura ◽  
Shuichi Doi ◽  
Masakazu Aoyama ◽  
Seiji Ohara

Summary The attraction of steamed Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis (Sieb. et Zucc.) Gord.) heartwood to the subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki was investigated. Hot-water extracts of the steamed and the non-steamed larch woods were sequentially extracted with n-hexane, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate. Furthermore, the residual water-soluble fraction of the steamed wood was fractionated by column chromatography using an Amberlite XAD-2 resin. Feeding-preference and feeding-deterrence of the termite were assessed in the two-choice feeding tests using paper discs permeated with each fraction. The diethyl ether extracts of the non-steamed larch wood showed the feeding-deterrence activity. Taxifolin, the main component of these extracts, was found to be the major feeding-deterrence constituent. In the case of the steamed larch wood, taxifolin was not detected in any fractions, and the residual water-soluble fraction showed the feeding-preference activity. Furthermore, it was found that the feeding-preference constituents were contained in the coloring substances adsorbed by the Amberlite XAD-2 resin. From these results, the degradation of taxifolin and the formation of coloring substances during the steam treatment were to be considered as important factors of the attraction of steamed larch wood to the termite.


Insects ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Franklin Quarcoo ◽  
Xing Hu ◽  
Arthur Appel

Behavioral symptoms and mortality associated with intoxication with insecticides fipronil and indoxacarb were determined in field-collected eastern subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), and Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Behaviors and mortality were evaluated at three temperatures (16, 22, and 28 °C) and three concentrations of fipronil (0.5, 1, and 5 ppm) and indoxacarb (50, 75, and 100 ppm). LT50 (median lethal time to kill 50% of the termites) values declined with increasing concentrations and temperatures for both fipronil-exposed eastern and Formosan subterranean termites, whereas these values were not always the highest at 16 °C for indoxacarb-treated termites. The greatest change (reduction) in LT50 values occurred for both species between 16 and 22 °C at the lowest concentration of each insecticide. Intoxication and moribundity were the most frequently observed behaviors for fipronil-exposed termites, whereas intoxication, ataxia, and moribundity were observed for most concentration and temperature combinations for indoxacarb-exposed termites. The inherent toxicity of fipronil was higher than that of indoxacarb. The higher presence and duration of intoxication behaviors may positively affect the performance of indoxacarb against subterranean termite colonies.


2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Messenger ◽  
Nan-Yao Su

Beginning in 1998, multiple mark-recapture studies were conducted inside 12.75-ha Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, LA, to locate and characterize all detectable colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), established within the park. This is the first attempt to characterize subterranean termite colonies on such a large scale within a defined area. As a result, 13 C. formosanus colonies were identified using characteristics such as mean worker weight (range, 2.96–4.54 mg), foraging territory size (range, 83–1634 m2), and wood consumption rate (range, 0.6–5.2 g wood/monitoring station/day). In addition, six Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colonies were identified throughout the park. A total of 251 of 785 (~32%) trees in the park were infested by C. formosanus colonies. Foraging territories of each colony remained relatively stable over a 4-yr period, with seasonal activity within monitoring stations increasing during the summer and decreasing during winter.


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