Influence of Wood Decay on Feeding and Survival of the Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

In a further laboratory study [cf. FA 32 Nos. 1660-1], R. flavipes workers exposed to both decayed and sound wood of Acer saccharum, Juglans nigra, Larix occidentalis, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii, P. ponderosa and P. taeda ate 1.4-2.0 times more decayed than sound wood. Survival during the 8-week tests was highest on wood decayed by Daedalea quercina and Poria oleracea and lowest on wood decayed by P. cocos and P. monticola. Survival was better on oven-dried than on non-oven-dried decayed wood of all the species tested except J. nigra; R. flavipes did not survive either on oven-dried decayed or on any sound wood of J. nigra, but survived fairly well on the non-oven-dried decayed wood. Reasons for these results are suggested. The termites were attracted by aqueous extracts of all six woods decayed by Lenzites trabea, three woods decayed by P. cocos, and one wood each decayed by Lentinus lepideus and D. quercina.KEYWORDS:Acer saccharum wood termite damage \ Daedalea quercina \ decay \ wood \ decayed wood \ Isoptera \ Juglans nigra wood termite damage \ Larix occidentalis \ Lentinus lepideus \ Lenzites trabea \ Pinus elliottii var. elliottii wood termite damage \ Pinus ponderosa wood termite damage \ Pinus taeda wood