Allee effect in termite colony formation: influence of alate density and flight timing on pairing success and survivorship

Abstract

The Allee effect is a positive relationship between any component of individual fitness and the density of conspecifics. Theoretical models predict that monogamy, where males and females are constrained from having multiple mates, is more susceptible to the Allee effect. In most termite species, including Reticulitermes spp., found new colonies by monogamous pairs (i.e., primary king and queen); however, little is known about the effects of alate density and flight timing on pairing and colony foundation success. In this study, a positive relationship between alate density and pairing success was observed in the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes speratus. Upon release of dealates (individuals after shedding wings) every 3 days for 9 days at 10, 20, 40, or 80 pairs/m2/day in a semi-natural field, no pairs were observed for the 10 pairs/m2/day treatment after 3 months. However, 7.5, 13.8, and 18.1% of dealates formed pairs in the 20, 40, and 80 pairs/m2/day groups, respectively. Most pairs (78.7%) comprised dealates released simultaneously, and 17.3 and 4% comprised dealates released 3 and 6 days apart, respectively. R. speratus also preferred brown rotten pine for colony foundations to white rotten oak. This study provides important new insights into the density effects and nest-site preference for termite colony foundation.