Nest growth and survivorship in three species of neotropical Nasutitermes (Isoptera : Termitidae)

Lone-term growth and survivorship of individual arboreal nests were studied in three species of Neotropical termites in the genus Nasutitermes. Of the 29 N. corniger (Motschulsky) and seven N. ephratae (Holmgren) nests monito red in an area of young second-growth in Panama, 12 (41%) N. corniger and f our (57%) N. ephratae nests remained active throughout the 9- to 11-mo stud y. There was no significant difference in survivorship between small and la rge nests of either species. In surviving N. corniger nests with a single q ueen, the net increase in volume was highly correlated (r = 0.87, n = 9) wi th queen wet weight. There was a marked seasonality to nest expansion in bo th. N. corniger and N. ephratae, with growth occurring almost exclusively d uring the wet season. Seventeen N. acajutlae (Holmgren) nests were monitore d for 4-9 yr on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands. Four of the 17 (23.5% ) N. acajutlae nests survived the study period, and two more abandoned thei r original nest and relocated. Within this limited sample of colonies, N. a cajutlae nests that were large ( >150,000 cm(3)) at the beginning of the st udy had a higher probability of survival than did small ( <100.000 cm(3)) n ests. Nest budding, relocation, and resprouting are mechanisms that Nasutit ermes may use to create a new nest for all or a portion of an established c olony. The ontogeny of incipient Nasutitermes colonies is discussed as a se quence in which a young colony remains cryptic within wood, building its po pulation size to a point where the colony can maintain and defend a nest. E arly in a wet season, termites then venture from within wood to build and o ccupy a small arboreal nest.