During 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.
Social insects are known to have complex and elaborate communication systems. Communication through chemical signals is paramount in termites since these insects are blind and have cryptic habits. Despite this, knowledge about the role of chemical signals in termites is still scarce, especially in phylogenetically derived species. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of foraging chemical signals in Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae), including the effect of different anatomical sources of foraging chemical signals, the response of groups with different caste compositions, and the colony-specificity of these signals. Specifically, we tested the following hypotheses: (i) rectal fluid and sternal gland extracts have different roles in perception, orientation, and acceptance by groups of N. corniger with different caste compositions; (ii) the behavior of N. corniger exposed to intercolonial foraging signals is not altered; and (iii) intercolonial foraging signals have attractive activity on N. corniger. To do so, trail, behavior and attraction/repellent bioassays were carried out in the laboratory. The sternal gland extract triggered greater trail behavior than the other foraging signals. Furthermore, the rectal fluid extract seems to exert an orientation function in N. corniger while the sternal gland extract acts as a recruitment signal. Finally, the behavior and attractiveness of the intercolonial foraging signals were not altered when compared with the control. The results found in the present study increase the understanding of foraging chemical communication in Isoptera and reinforce the role of intercolonial signals in the attractiveness of groups of N. corniger.
Ecological, behavioral, and toxicological studies with termites are frequently difficult to conduct under field conditions because their cryptic lifestyle. It is important to know the factors that can limit survival to ensure that laboratory studies will reflect the natural survival of these insects. Here, we tested the effect of a food resource and carton nest material on group survival of Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky, 1855) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) in the laboratory. In general, termites survived longer in treatments with a food resource (sugarcane baits) compared to groups with carton nest material and control. However, groups with food resources exhibited high mortality due to fungal infection. The result of this study may contribute to the establishment of bioassay protocols performed with N. corniger in the laboratory.
Decrease the risk of being killed and increase the food intake is an important feature of the foraging behavior of most animals. In general, foragers are vulnerable and the ability to trade-off benefits (food quantity) against costs (risk of being killed) may provide a considerable ecological advantage. Despite the increasing number of studies, the effects of food quantity and risk signals on resource selection in eusocial insect is not well understood. Here, we investigated the combination of distinct levels of food quantity and risk signals on resource selection of a Neotropical termite, Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae). Manipulative bioassays with binary and multiple choices were conducted over time to check the recruitment of termite groups among resources containing different levels of food quantity and risk signals. Overall, the quantity of food resource was more important than the risk signals during the resource selection by N. corniger groups. However, termites were able to perceive the risk choosing resource with high benefits (high amount of food) and low costs (low risk signal) when it was conducted multiple bioassays with empty arenas. This work contributes to a better understanding of habitat use by termite species. Furthermore, it shows for the first time the combined effects of food quantity and risk signals on resource selection of an important ecological and economic termite species.
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