Abstract
Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, usually transport clay materials into tree hollows and bait stations. Our previous research showed that C. formosanus preferred to aggregate in the locations containing field-collected clay samples, but it was not clear whether this preference was influenced by clay types and/or moisture. In the present study, we conducted multiple-choice tests under low-moisture (25% moisture) or moderate-moisture (50% moisture) conditions to evaluate the aggregation and wood-feeding preferences of C. formosanus responding to hollow wooden cylinders (simulation of tree hollows) or baiting containers (simulation of bait stations) filled with different clay materials (bentonite , kaolin, chlorite, illite, or attapulgite), soil, or unfilled. Under low-moisture conditions, the majority of termites were found in the wooden cylinders or baiting containers filled with bentonite. Under moderate-moisture conditions, however, termites preferred to aggregate in wooden cylinders filled with chlorite or attapulgite; the percentages of termites that stayed in baiting containers filled with chlorite, attapulgite or soil were similar, which were significantly higher than those that filled with kaolin, illite, or unfilled. We then conducted no-choice tests to study the effect of clay materials on termites. Under low-moisture conditions, clay filled in the baiting containers significantly increased survivorship and body water percentage (an indicator of termite vigor) of termites, whereas no similar effect was detected under moderate-moisture conditions. This study demonstrated that both clay type and moisture affect termites’ preference.
Highlights
The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), is an economically significant pest distributed in many warm temperate/subtropical regions of the world, including the United States of America, China, How to cite this article Jin Z, Chen J, Wen X, Wang C. 2020
Similar percentages of termites aggregated in the substrate and wooden cylinders filled with bentonite, both were significantly higher than that in other locations (Fig. 4A)
No significant difference in wood consumption was detected when compared among wooden cylinders filled with each clay material or soil, or unfilled (Fig. 4B)
Summary
The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), is an economically significant pest distributed in many warm temperate/subtropical regions of the world, including the United States of America, China, How to cite this article Jin Z, Chen J, Wen X, Wang C. 2020. The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), is an economically significant pest distributed in many warm temperate/subtropical regions of the world, including the United States of America, China, How to cite this article Jin Z, Chen J, Wen X, Wang C. Lai et al (1983) reported that C. formosanus usually consumed the xylem, tree vascular tissue that transports water with dissolved minerals from the roots to stems and leaves and provides physical support as well. These trees may appear healthy and normal (the living part of the tree remained undamaged), they could be broken by winds (Lai et al, 1983). Evans, Forschler & Trettin (2019) reported that 38% experimental patches of forests around Charleston (South Carolina, USA) and 42% patches around New Orleans (Louisiana, USA) were infested by C. formosanus, which caused significantly more and larger tree hollows compared with patches without termite infestation
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