scholarly journals Effects of clay materials and moisture levels on habitat preference and survivorship of Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10243
Author(s):  
Zhengya Jin ◽  
Jian Chen ◽  
Xiujun Wen ◽  
Cai Wang
Keyword(s):  
Coptotermes Formosanus ◽  
Subterranean Termites ◽  
Feeding Preferences ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Moisture Conditions ◽  
Bait Stations ◽  
Clay Materials ◽  
Clay Type

Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, usually transport clay materials into tree hollows and bait stations. Our previous research showed that C. formosanus preferred to aggregate in the locations containing field-collected clay samples, but it was not clear whether this preference was influenced by clay types and/or moisture. In the present study, we conducted multiple-choice tests under low-moisture (25% moisture) or moderate-moisture (50% moisture) conditions to evaluate the aggregation and wood-feeding preferences of C. formosanus responding to hollow wooden cylinders (simulation of tree hollows) or baiting containers (simulation of bait stations) filled with different clay materials (bentonite , kaolin, chlorite, illite, or attapulgite), soil, or unfilled. Under low-moisture conditions, the majority of termites were found in the wooden cylinders or baiting containers filled with bentonite. Under moderate-moisture conditions, however, termites preferred to aggregate in wooden cylinders filled with chlorite or attapulgite; the percentages of termites that stayed in baiting containers filled with chlorite, attapulgite or soil were similar, which were significantly higher than those that filled with kaolin, illite, or unfilled. We then conducted no-choice tests to study the effect of clay materials on termites. Under low-moisture conditions, clay filled in the baiting containers significantly increased survivorship and body water percentage (an indicator of termite vigor) of termites, whereas no similar effect was detected under moderate-moisture conditions. This study demonstrated that both clay type and moisture affect termites’ preference.

scholarly journals Super Absorbent Polymers Buried within Dry Soil Attract Formosan Subterranean Termites (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae)

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qinxi Xie ◽  
Zhengya Jin ◽  
Wei Lin ◽  
Kena Xue ◽  
Xuemei Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Coptotermes Formosanus ◽  
Void Volume ◽  
Subterranean Termites ◽  
Feeding Behaviors ◽  
Super Absorbent Polymer ◽  
Dry Soil ◽  
Moisture Conditions ◽  
Bait Stations ◽  
Absorbent Polymer

Baiting is one of the main methods to control subterranean termites. Many previous studies showed that subterranean termites avoid making tunnels within dry soil and feeding on dry wood, which may decrease bait infestation and consumption in drought areas. Super absorbent polymers are a group of materials that can retain large amounts of water and improve the moisture content of soil and bait matrices, and therefore may attract termites. In the present study, choice tests were conducted in the laboratory to investigate the aggregation and feeding behaviors of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, in response to the three super absorbent polymers—sodium polyacrylate (Na-PAM), potassium polyacrylate (K-PAM), and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid) potassium salt (P(AM/AA))—that were either placed within soil or filled in the void volume of baiting containers. Under dry-soil (30%-moisture) conditions, termites consumed significantly more wood in the chambers where super absorbent polymers were buried than in the control chambers (super absorbent polymer was not placed within soil). In addition, Na-PAM placed within dry soil significantly increased termite aggregation compared with the control chambers. However, no aggregation or feeding preference was detected when super absorbent polymers were placed within wet soil (60%-moisture). Also, filling super absorbent polymers into the void volume of baiting containers did not attract termites, whether the soil was dry or wet. Our study showed that placing super absorbent polymers within soil around bait stations may increase bait consumption by subterranean termites in drought locations.

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

2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 525-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.T. Lima ◽  
A.M. Costa-Leonardo
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Behavior ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Subterranean Termites ◽  
Wood Block ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Coptotermes Gestroi

AbstractA 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.

Two Models for Multiple Choice Tests

1968 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Brown Grier ◽  
Raymond Ditrichs
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Choice Tests

Validity and subgroup differences on three- and five-alternative multiple-choice tests

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardis L. Bruce ◽  
Bryan D. Edwards ◽  
Winfred Arthur
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Subgroup Differences ◽  
Choice Tests

Using multiple-choice tests as learning events

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeri L. Little ◽  
Elizabeth Ligon Bjork ◽  
Ashley Kees
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Choice Tests

Increasing Benefits in Learning With More Effortful Multiple Choice Tests

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica M. Logan ◽  
Alda G. Rivas
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Choice Tests

IMPROVING STUDENTS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN READING NARRATIVE TEXT BY USING RECIPROCAL TEACHING METHOD

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Adelina Sianturi ◽  
Sumarsih Sumarsih
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Narrative Text ◽  
Reciprocal Teaching ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Tenth Grade ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Mean

This study deals with the improving students’ achievement in reading narrative text by using reciprocal teaching. The research of this study was conducted by using action research. The subject of this study was the tenth grade students SMA Negeri 6 Medan. One class was taken as the subject, namely the students from X-5. There were 49 students, consisting of 22 male and 27 female. This research was done in two cycles; there was three meetings in cycle I and three meetings in cycle II. The instruments for collecting data were reading narrative text (25 items of multiple choice tests) teacher make test as quantitative data and interview sheet, observation sheet and diary notes as qualitative data. In analyzing the data, the mean of the students’ score for the treatment I was 61.79, for the treatment II was 72.24 and treatment III was 81.71. The data showed that the students’ score was rising in every treatment. The conclusion is that the use of reciprocal teaching method can improve students’ reading comprehension in narrative text. It suggested to English teacher to apply reciprocal teaching method in teaching reading comprehension. Key words: reading, narrative text, reciprocal teaching.

THE EFFECT OF RAP (READ, ASK, PARAPHRASE) STRATEGY ON STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION IN READING ANALYTICAL EXPOSITION TEXT

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika N. And Lince Sihombing
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
T Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Tests ◽  
Choice Tests ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Level Of Significance ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

This study focused on finding out the effect of applying RAP (Read, Ask,Paraphrase) Strategy on students’ reading comprehension in reading analyticalexposition text. This study was conducted in experimental design. The populationof this research was the second year of students in SMA Swasta Katolik BudiMurni 2 Medan. There were seventy students of the second year senior highschool students as the sample of the research. This study was conducted with tworandomized groups namely Experimental Group and Control Group. Theexperimental group was taught by applying RAP Strategy, while the control groupwas taught by applying conventional strategy. The instrument of collecting thedata was multiple choice tests which consisted of 25 items. The data wereanalyzed by using t-test formula. The calculation shown that t-observed (5.36)was higher than t-table (1.994) at the level of significance (α) 0.05 with the degreeof freedom (df) 68. It means that there was a significant effect of applying RAPStrategy on students’ reading comprehension in reading analytical exposition text.

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