BEHAVIORAL PROFILES IN LABORATORY COLONIES OF KALOTERMES FLAVICOLLIS (ISOPTERA, KALOTERMITIDAE) WITH DIFFERENT SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS

Behavioral patterns of pseudergates, nymphs and replacement reproducti ves were observed in laboratory colonies of Kalotermes flavicollis wit h different social composition. The investigation revealed that in the presence of the royal couple pseudergates and nymphs behave similarly , acting as typical workers and confirmed the central role of the repr oductives in receiving and transmitting signals which probably underli e the regulation of social equilibrium. The death of a reproductive, w hich occurred spontaneously in two pseudergate colonies, gave rise to a remarkable increase of activities, especially of social interactions among pseudergates.