Effect of organic and inorganic landscape mulches on subterranean termite (Isoptera : Rhinotermitidae) foraging activity

This research investigated whether organic and inorganic landscape mulches, which buffer soils against temperature extremes and desiccation, create co nditions conducive to subterranean foraging by Reticulitermes virginicus (B anks). In the field, termite activity was measured with cardboard monitors placed beneath and within plots of eucalyptus, hardwood, pine bark, and pea gravel mulches, and bare ground (control). Gravel mulch provided higher fe eding rates in underground monitors. Groundcover type had no significant ef fect on the number of monitors discovered by termites or the number of term ites within each monitor. All groundcovers significantly reduced the temper ature of the soil surface compared with bare soils, but temperature and moi sture levels 12 cm below mulch-covered surfaces were not significantly diff erent from those beneath bare soil. In the laboratory, R. virginicus were f ed one of the three organic mulches or a control diet of white birch, Betul a papyrifera (Marsh), as their only food source. All diet types were consum ed at equivalent rates, but the mulch-fed termites suffered significantly l ower survivorship.