title: Behavior and survival ofReticulitermes hesperus banks (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on selected sawdusts and wood extracts.
abstract: Survival ofReticulitermes hesperus workers was assessed inPseudotsuga menziesii, Lysiloma seemanii, andTabebuia ochracea sawdusts; and on heartwood solvent extracts ofP. menziesii, L. seemanii, T. ochracea, Pinus ponderosa, Tabebuia guayacan, and aCentrolobium species. Survival inP. menziesii sawdust was 100% at 5 days and 81-87% at 15 days. Survival inL. seemanii andT. ochracea sawdusts was significantly less over both 5 and 15 days than in the starvation control, indicating toxicity. Survival on filter papers treated with solvent extracts ofT. ochracea andP. ponderosa was significantly less than that on control papers, but onlyP. ponderosa differed significantly from the starvation control. In behavioral assays with groups and with individualR. hesperus workers, extracts ofP. menziesii andP. ponderosa were preferred. In the individual behavioral assays, extracts ofT. guayacan andT. ochracea were repellent. Results of toxicity assays were not predictable from preference assays.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, M5S 1A1, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kenneth Grace
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Frankie