Author
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Park, Yong |
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Raina, Ashok |
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Submitted to: Annals of the Entomological Society of America
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2005 Publication Date: 10/1/2005 Citation: Park, Y.I., Raina, A.K. 2005. Light sensitivity in workers and soldiers of the formosan subterranean termite, coptotermes formosanus shiraki (isoptera: rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 45: 367-376. Interpretive Summary: Formosan termite is a subterranean species that spends most of its life underground and away from light except during swarming by the adult winged stage. As such worker and soldier termites have no functional eyes. However, most laboratory studies of the food collecting behavior are conducted in some amount of light. It is important to know how sensitive different castes of the Formosan termite are to light, even at very low intensity. Termite workers were found to perceive and avoid light of 0.6 lux intensity and above. Pre-soldiers, a transient stage between workers and soldiers, and newly formed soldiers also showed similar response to light. However, four days old or older soldiers, exhibited a positive response to light. This change is a response from worker to soldier reflecting their change in functional behavior from food collector to colony defender. The information obtained would be useful to scientists in planning experiments on foraging behavior and, in predicting the movement of a colony in a lighted vs. dark place. Technical Abstract: Photo-sensitivity of the Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, was tested in workers, pre-soldiers, and soldiers of various ages. Preferred foraging locations under laboratory bioassay conditions were also determined in response to various light regimens. Workers, pre-soldiers, and less than 2-day-old soldiers showed negative phototaxis, but mature soldiers showed positive phototaxis. |
