FLUORESCENT SPRAY PAINT AS A TOPICAL MARKER ON SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES (ISOPTERA, RHINOTERMITIDAE)

Two species of subterranean termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and R. virginicus (Banks), were sprayed with fluorescent paint to ass ess its practicality as a topical marker. In the laboratory, termite s urvival was not affected by the spray painting treatment. The percenta ge of termites that retained the paint marker after 2 weeks was lower with R. virginicus (33.2%) than with R. flavipes (74.7%). The percenta ge of termites that retained the red paint over time was higher than e ither the blue or green paints. Of the 6 colors (red, pink, orange, gr een, yellow, and blue) tested, only 3 color complexes (red-pink-orange ; blue: yellow-green) were distinguishable on the termites. This techn ique was used to map the foraging territories of 7 subterranean termit e colonies in the field. The advantages of this technique over standar d oil-soluble mark methodologies are discussed.