Kansas IPM Education October 2005 Termite Biology and Behavior Dr. Richard M. Houseman Assistant...

Kansas IPM EducationOctober 2005

Termite Biology and BehaviorTermite Biology and Behavior

Dr. Richard M. HousemanAssistant Professor of Entomology

Division of Plant Sciences

University of Missouri


TermitesTermites

• Isoptera– 40-50 species in the U.S.

• Social Insects

• Incomplete metamorphosis

• Feed on cellulose


Subterranean Termite DevelopmentSubterranean Termite Development

After Buchli 1958


Developmental StagesDevelopmental Stages

White Immatures

• Larvae• Not sclerotized (hardened)• Fed a liquid diet • little work• develop into other forms



Other Immatures

• Worker• most numerous caste• Work to maintain colony• No wing buds• Head and mandibles sclerotized• May become secondary reproductives (rarely)



Other Immatures

• Nymphs• Wing buds• Brain, sex organs developed• Future alates• May become secondary reproductives

(commonly)


N

W

L

W



Adults

• Soldier • Sterile• No further molting• Modified for defense• Depend on a liquid diet



Adults

• Primary Reproductives• develop wings and darkened body (swarmers)• leave to start new colonies • definite time of year• Highest egg production



Adults

• Secondary Reproductives• from workers (rarely) or nymphs (commonly)• no wing development • Develop in absence of primary reproductives• stay within current colony and produce eggs • Lower egg production but higher number


2R


Subterranean Termite DevelopmentSubterranean Termite Development

Buchli 1958


Termite BehaviorTermite Behavior

• Termites exhibit social behavior– Use the same nest – Cooperation (Communication)– Overlapping generations– Division of labor

• Division of labor = Division of Behavior


Termite CommunicationTermite Communication

• Touch, Taste, Smell– Tactile stimuli

• Touching of antennae, mouthparts• Head tapping• Vibration of substrate

– Chemical stimuli called pheromones• Alarm, Trail, Sex pheromones• Many others


Termite BehaviorTermite Behavior

• Division Labor/Behavior– Workers

• Building; Feeding; Foraging; Grooming

– Soldiers• Defending; Alarm

– Reproductives• Swarming; Pairing; Mating


BuildingBuilding

• Subterranean nest– Need a moisture source– Maintain soil contact– Construct mud tubes


BuildingBuilding

Excavation and Construction

• Excavation of tunnels– Soil particles picked up in mandibles– Choose favorable areas in the landscape– Consistent searching


BuildingBuilding

• Construction of tubes– Low-level alarm stimulus

• Air movement• Odor, Heat, humidity change

– Response• Jerk backwards• 180° turn and place fecal cement• warn nestmates


• Obtain nutrition/feed the colony – Cellulose – Digested by microorganisms– Nitrogen fixation

• Behaviors– Consumption– Trophollaxis

FeedingFeeding


TrophollaxisTrophollaxis

• Mutual food exchange within the colony

• Functions– Nutrition– Communication– Regulation


TrophollaxisTrophollaxis

• Types– Stomodeal

• Mouth-to-mouth transfer• Contains cellulose and salivary secretions

– Proctodeal• Anus-to-mouth transfer• Contains microorganisms, cellulose, anal

secretions• Most important


FeedingFeeding

• Cellulose in different forms– Finicky if have choices.

• Softer-spring rings softer than summer rings• Sapwood-young trees possess more sapwood

than heartwood• Fungus-can be good or bad

– Opportunistic if without choices.• Redwood, cedar, cypress• Peanuts, apples, strawberries


ForagingForaging

• Tunneling• Areas of favorable soil

temp and moisture• Follow guidelines

• Locating food• Wood that is associated

with moist, dark places• Direct nestmates toward

suitable food sources


ForagingForaging

• Rate varies with soil porosity (Houseman and Gold 2003)

• Location varies with soil temperature and moisture (Houseman 1999, Long et al. 2001)

• Consistent conditions more important than ‘peak’ values

• Landscaping influences consistency


The number of cardboard monitoring stations discovered by termitesin mulch and the underlying soil. (Long et al. 2001)

Treatments

Control Eucalyptus Hardwood Pine Bark Pea Gravel

Mo

nit

ors

dis

co

vere

d

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Underground Within mulch


The number of termites observed within monitoring stationsin mulch and the underlying soil. (Long et al. 2001)

Treatments


Nu

mb

er

of

Te

rmit

es

0

5

10

15

20

25



The quantity of cardboard monitoring stations consumed by termitesin mulch and the underlying soil. (Long et al. 2001)

Treatments


Ca

rdb

oard

co

ns

um

ed

(g

)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6



GroomingGrooming

• Removal of pathogens from nestmates– Studies with powders– Complete removal usually less than 24h


SwarmingSwarming

• Dispersal Flight– NOT a mating flight – In response to seasonal environmental

conditions• Light, Temperature, Moisture, Wind

– Each species has own dispersal period


Swarm Periods for Swarm Periods for ReticulitermesReticulitermes species species in Missouriin Missouri

R.tibialis

R.flavipes

R.virginicus

R.arenicola

R.hageni

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec


MatingMating

• Shed wings after landing– Females

• If touched; – Walk, abdomen down, looking for nest site

• If not touched; – Stop, abdomen up, emit pheromones

– Males• Touch and follow


NestingNesting

• Copularium– 1x2cm; next to objects on the soil

• Cooperate in construction

– Mate after constructed– Raise first batch of eggs together

• First year: 30-50• Second year: 100-900 (µ=387±226)

– Female with large abdomen, but mobile

Kansas IPM Education October 2005 Termite Biology and Behavior Dr. Richard M. Houseman Assistant...

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