Aspects of the Water Relations of the Formosan and Eastern Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

Aspects of the water relations of worker and soldier Formosan subterranean, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and eastern subterranean, Reticuliiermes flavipes (Kollar), termites were investigated. The percentage of total body water ranged from 55.68 ± 0.42% for C. formosanus female alates to 75.88 ± 0.36% for R. flavipes workers. Body water loss of both species increased linearly from 2 to 10 h at 30°C and 0–2% RH. Cuticular permeabilities ranged from 15.22 ± 0.93 μg cm−2 h−1 mmHg−1 for C. formosanus soldiers to 42.53 ± 0.21 μg cm−2 h−1 mmHg−1 for C. formosanus male alates. Cuticular permeability of C. formosanus soldiers was also significantly less than that of any stage of R. flavipes . Water loss at death ranged from 35.30 to 55.49% for C. formosanus soldiers and R. flavipes male alates, respectively. Water content of nest material ranged from 16.3 to 67.7% for both species.