Effect of Seasonal Changes in Soil Temperature and Moisture on Wood Consumption and Foraging Activity of Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

2011 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 1024-1030 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary L. Cornelius ◽  
Weste L. A. Osbrink
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Subterranean Termite ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Formosan Subterranean Termite ◽  
Wood Consumption ◽  
Soil Temperature And Moisture

Colony Characteristics and Seasonal Activity of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Louis Armstrong Park, New Orleans, Louisiana

2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Messenger ◽  
Nan-Yao Su
Keyword(s):  
New Orleans ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Consumption Rate ◽  
Reticulitermes Flavipes ◽  
Coptotermes Formosanus ◽  
Subterranean Termite ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Seasonal Activity ◽  
Formosan Subterranean Termite ◽  
Wood Consumption

Beginning in 1998, multiple mark-recapture studies were conducted inside 12.75-ha Louis Armstrong Park in New Orleans, LA, to locate and characterize all detectable colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), established within the park. This is the first attempt to characterize subterranean termite colonies on such a large scale within a defined area. As a result, 13 C. formosanus colonies were identified using characteristics such as mean worker weight (range, 2.96–4.54 mg), foraging territory size (range, 83–1634 m2), and wood consumption rate (range, 0.6–5.2 g wood/monitoring station/day). In addition, six Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) colonies were identified throughout the park. A total of 251 of 785 (~32%) trees in the park were infested by C. formosanus colonies. Foraging territories of each colony remained relatively stable over a 4-yr period, with seasonal activity within monitoring stations increasing during the summer and decreasing during winter.

Feeding site selection by workers of the Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) – a re-analysis of field data from a mark–recapture study

2003 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.-Y. Su ◽  
P.N. Scherer
Keyword(s):  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Random Search ◽  
Coptotermes Formosanus ◽  
Subterranean Termite ◽  
Frequency Data ◽  
Feeding Frequency ◽  
Feeding Site ◽  
Formosan Subterranean Termite ◽  
Computer Simulation Program ◽  
Bait Stations

AbstractDuring the early stages of the development of termite baits, dyed paper was placed in specified feeding stations to ascertain whether a slow-acting toxicant could be placed in a few bait stations to be delivered to the entire colony members of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Feeding frequency data, as measured by the dye concentration in individual termites, suggested the absence of feeding site fidelity. However, these results were often misinterpreted as random movement of termites that were marked and released for population estimate studies, or the random search of food in soil by subterranean termites. A computer simulation program was constructed to re-examine this feeding frequency data, and confirmed the earlier conclusion that the lack of feeding site fidelity was the most likely explanation for the data.

scholarly journals Myosin Gene Expression and Protein Abundance in Different Castes of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes formosanus)

Insects ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1190-1199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Tarver ◽  
Christopher Florane ◽  
Christopher Mattison ◽  
Beth Holloway ◽  
Alan Lax
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Coptotermes Formosanus ◽  
Subterranean Termite ◽  
Protein Abundance ◽  
Formosan Subterranean Termite

Embryo dormancy responses to temperature in capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) seeds

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Ellery
Keyword(s):  
Soil Temperature ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Low Temperatures ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Temperature Fluctuation ◽  
Soil Surface ◽  
Seed Collection ◽  
Embryo Dormancy ◽  
Response To Temperature ◽  
Dormancy Cycles

Changes in embryo dormancy of capeweed [Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns.] seeds in response to temperature were investigated to determine the nature of seasonal dormancy cycles. Primary embryo dormancy persisted for 2–3 months after seed collection and was then rapidly relieved when seeds were maintained at temperatures simulating summer soil surface temperatures. Embryo dormancy was also rapidly relieved in seeds maintained at constant temperatures, indicating that a daily temperature fluctuation was not necessary for the relief of embryo dormancy in capeweed. Dormancy relief was maximal at 40°C. Secondary dormancy was induced when seeds were maintained at low temperatures and a water potential of –1.5 MPa, suggesting that the onset of winter may postpone germination until a subsequent autumn. These results indicate that the dormancy cycles observed in capeweed seeds maintained on the soil surface are probably driven by seasonal changes in soil temperature.

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