Subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): Exploitation of equivalent food resources with different forms of placement

Abstract

Coptotermes gestroi and Heterotermes tenuis have been described as important urban pests in Brazil. The establishment of control technologies using baits that consider the social behavior of termites requires a better knowledge of their foraging behavior. Thus, this study analyzed the feeding behavior of these species with three different forms of food placement: food on the surface of a substrate and food either partially or completely buried in the substrate. Experimental arenas were composed of a central chamber connected to three food chambers. Each central chamber contained 550 foragers of C. gestroi or 517 foragers of H. tenuis. Blocks of Pinus elliottii were placed in the different food chambers. After 28 days, the consumption of each wood block and the percentage of foraging individuals recruited for food chambers were verified in relation to the total survival rate obtained for each one of the 20 replicates. Results showed that completely buried food was most consumed for H. tenuis and presented a higher recruitment rate of workers and soldiers for both species. Although the consumption had non‐significant differences for C. gestroi, these termites exhibited a tendency to prefer completely buried food. In these conditions, it can be concluded that the forms of food placement used in the present research influenced the recruitment of individuals for both species. Data also suggests that when the foraging subterranean termites find food resources in the tunneling substrate, they tend to concentrate their efforts on it, a behavior regime that reduces exposure to external environment.

Characterization, Antibiotic Sensitivity Patterns, Plasmid Profile Analysis and Antagonistic Potentials of Microorganisms from Termitaria on Mango Trees in Ibule-Soro, Akure, Nigeria

“…Hyphae is hyaline with branched monophalides Intermediate (I) at ≤ 11.00 -15.00 mm and negative (-ve) at ≤ 10.00 mm as described by Toledo., et al [3] and Rosengaus., et al [1]. Conversely, the screened multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria isolates (MDRIs) which were resistant to more than 6 antibiotics were profiled for plasmid analysis are represented in figure 1; their analyzed zones of inhibition as well as resistance patterns after plasmid curing were also represented in table 6 below.…”

“…More so, the varying antibiotic sensitivity patterns of bacterial isolates to the antibiotics used could be due to the continuous overexposure of the termitarium to insecticide treatments from local farmers which may have predisposed these isolates to some active components contained in many of the antibiotics used; this was also described in the findings of Brune and Dietrich [8] and Toledo., et al [3].…”

“…Thereafter, a 1 ml each of the dilution factors 3 and 4 were used for inoculating already prepared Nutrient Agar and Potato Dextrose Agar seeded with 250 mg Chloramphenicol (for total filamentous fungi counts). The Bacterial isolates were incubated at 37 o C for 24hrs while Fungal isolates at 26 ± 2 o C for 3 -5 days [3]. Following incubation, the culture plates were observed for colony forming units of bacteria and spore forming mycelia units of fungi; thereafter, the fourth dilution factor was established as the standard for the isolation of the fungi due to easy numerical estimation of different colony and mycelia units [4].…”

“…Toledo., et al [3] suggested that some microorganisms inhabiting the gut of many termites are capable of exhibiting mild antagonism against other pathogens and thereby keeping the termites resistant to many pathogens. The bacterial isolates obtained however did not show any significant antagonism at the specified level of significance, while fungal isolates showed mild antagonistic effects against selected clinical isolates of interest at the same level of significance, this result agrees slightly with the findings of Lavelle., et al [24] and Toledo., et al [3].…”

“…have laid a background basis for further research into the microbial biodiversity of termites as well as their nests (termitaria) with respect to whether the type of trees there are found on directly impact the nature, distribution and types of microorganisms that can be obtained from them [3,8]. Hence, this study aimed at investigating the identity of microorganisms associated with the termitarium environment on Mango trees in Ibule-Soro, Akure, Nigeria; the antagonistic features of the identified microorganisms against known selected pathogens, evaluation of the antibiotic resistance patterns of the bacterial isolates obtained and as well as investigating the genetic basis of antibiotic resistance observed in the bacterial isolates obtained.…”