SUGGESTION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCE ON INTERCOLONY AGONISM OF FORMOSAN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES (ISOPTERA, RHINOTERMITIDAE)

The role of environmental factors in the intercolonial kin recognition of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki was investigated using laboratory c olonies under similar environmental conditions. Investigation of the p arental field colonies found prediction of agonistic interactions base d on geographic distance to be unreliable. Agonism did not occur betwe en non-nestmate groups from laboratory colonies. Pairings of field and laboratory groups demonstrated reduced agonism. These results suggest ed that an environmental cue is part of a multiple component system fo r intercolony kin recognition in this species.