SWARMING AND INCIPIENT COLONIES OF COPTOTERMES HAVILANDI (ISOPTERA, RHINOTERMITIDAE)

Coptotermes havilandi Holmgren is an oriental species introduced into Brazil. Despite its economic impact as structural pest, very little is known about the biology of this termite, This paper describes observa tions of C. havilandi swarming in the city of Rio Claro (SP, Brazil), and reports the first data on incipient colonies reared in a laborator y in Brazil. The preoviposition period lasted about a week after pairi ng; oviposition began in most of the incipient colonies during the sec ond week. Antennal mutilation occurred on all reproductives. The mean number of the first batch of eggs was 13. In general, first instar bro od hatched 60-70 days after set up of the colonies, After two years of pairing there was a small population (less than 100 individuals) and limited soldier production (n=2) in incipient colonies of C. havilandi .