Journal
JOURNAL OF WOOD SCIENCE
Volume 50, Issue 6, Pages 530-534Publisher
SPRINGER JAPAN KK
DOI: 10.1007/s10086-003-0594-y
Keywords
Coptotermes formosanus; Reticulitermes speratits; temperature; relative humidity; feeding activity
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Two species of Japanese subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Reticulitermes speratus (Kolbe), were used in an investigation of the optimum temperature-relative humidity (RH) combination for their feeding activities. Daily wood consumption per worker and survivals were measured, and the protozoan fauna in the hindgut were observed under 15 temperature-RH combinations for 1 week. Five temperatures (20degrees, 25degrees, 30degrees, 35degrees, and 40degreesC) and three RH conditions (50%, 70% and 90% RH) were examined. The activities of the workers were highest at around 30degreesC for both species, and workers died at 40degreesC within 5 days and 2 days for C. formosanus and R. speratus, respectively. The optimum RH condition for feeding activity was 90% RH for C. formosanus and 70%-90% RH for R. speratus. The optimum temperature-RH combinations for feeding activities were 30degreesC at 90% RH for C. formosanus and 30degreesC at 70%-90% RH for R. Speratits.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available