Effect of moisture and two nitrogen sources on nest site choice by alates and dealates of Coptotermes formosanus in the laboratory (Isoptera : Rhinotermitidae)
Hx. Fei et G. Henderson, Effect of moisture and two nitrogen sources on nest site choice by alates and dealates of Coptotermes formosanus in the laboratory (Isoptera : Rhinotermitidae), SOCIOBIOLOG, 34(3), 1999, pp. 581-589
We examined the effect of moisture and two chemical additives, urea and L-g
lutamic acid on the nest site choice of alates and dealates of Coptotermes
formosanus Shiraki in the laboratory. Nest-founding C. formosanus preferred
sites with high moisture availability to sites lacking moisture. Only 4% o
f adults were collected in sites lacking moisture, whereas, 96% chose moist
sites. The additive urea did not significantly increase nest site preferen
ce of alates and dealates compared to the control. L-glutamic acid appears
to have an inhibitory effect on nest site choice by alates and dealates. We
conclude that moisture is a precondition for infestation initiated by pote
ntial queens and kings. However, nitrogenous compounds, in particular urea
and L-glutamic acid, in the substrate did not appear to increase nest site
preference.