title: Behavioral responses of two subterranean termite species (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to instant freezing or chilling temperatures.
abstract: The behavioral responses to instant freezing or chilling temperatures and survivorship of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, and the Eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), were studied using a novel experimental design that closely simulated subterranean termites' natural in-ground environment. Both termite species responded to changes in temperature by exhibiting a downward mass movement from the cold to warmer area of constant temperature. However, the degrees of response were specific to the species and temperature regimen. Approximately 88 and 96% of R. flavipes escaped from instant 0 degrees C and chilling regimens (from 24 to 0 degrees C at a rate of 1 degrees C/h or 1 degrees C/12 h), respectively, compared with approximately 77 and 91% of C. formosanus. No significant difference was detected between the two cooling regimens in either termite species. Controls resulted in a relatively even distribution within test tubes in both termite species. The small portion of the termites that did not escape endured a cold coma at a 24-h 0 degrees C and had low mortality of 2.2 and <1% in R. flavipes and <5.2 and <3% in C. formosanus at instant and chilling regimens, respectively. This result may have implications for understanding group intelligence and decision making evolved by subterranean termites to survive temporary freezing cold.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. xhu@aces.edu
authors.forename: Xing Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Dunlun
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D020049:Isoptera / Q000502:physiology*; D012987:Soil; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D012987:Soil