Resource selection in nasute termite: The role of social information

Abstract

AbstractDuring foraging, organisms need to assess the costs and benefits related to resources wanted. An energy‐efficient way of locating and deciding among new food sources is to use cues left by other organisms in the environment (i.e., social information). In the present study, manipulative bioassays were conducted to evaluate the role of intra‐ and interspecific chemical cues in the selection of food resource by Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). For this, we tested the hypothesis that individuals of N. corniger are able to perceive and use chemical cues by either colonies of the same species or from different species. Linear trail bioassays were conducted to verify whether N. corniger workers perceive and accept intra‐ and interspecific chemical cues. Then, resource bioassays were performed with a binary and multiple choices to evaluate whether the termite group's decision of food resources was based on intra‐ and/or interspecific chemical cues. In general, groups of N. corniger preferred baits with chemical cues of other intraspecific colonies or with undetectable cues (hexane solvent or interspecific cues) than those with their own chemical signals. These results suggest that intraspecific chemical cues seem to modulate the food resource selection in N. corniger, which may help researchers to better understand the use of habitat by termites.