Coptotermes

Termites, subterranean Karachi, Pakistan termite-infested area (Microtermes spp., Heterotermes spp., Coptotermes spp., Odontotermes spp.)... 

In addition to their mandibles, which are used to bite, pierce, shear, and cut intruders, soldiers of Coptotermes formosanus, a Formosan subterranean termite, are also armed with chemical weaponry. When disturbed, the soldiers secrete a gluelike white fluid from the frontal gland, which often form a drop between the open mandibles. Lignoceric and hexacosanoic acids were the two major components identified in this secretion [183]. 

Imamura etal. (1986) exposed particleboard made from acetylated wood to the termite species Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. A forced feeding test according to the JWPA standard 11-1981, where the untreated or acetylated wood was the only food source, and a choice feeding test (where wood specimens were randomly placed on a termite breeding colony for 30 days) were used. With C. formosanus, there was limited attack of the fully acetylated boards, with about 50 % termite mortality after 3 weeks in forced feeding tests, whereas with R. sparatus there was virtually no attack and 100% mortality. 

Yusuf etal. (1989) exposed IS- or PF-bonded particleboard made from acetylated albizzia to C. formosanus according to JWPA standard 12-1981, and in a field test (3 months exposure next to a nest of Coptotermes sp.). In both tests, weight losses were around 50 %, indicating a lack of resistance to attack by this species. 

Meepagala K, Osbrink W, Sturtz G, Lax A, Plant-derived natural products exhibiting activity against Formosan subterranean termites Coptotermes for-mosanus), Pest ManagSci 62 565-570, 2006. 

Zhu BCR, Henderson G, Chen F, Maistrello L, Laine RA, Nootkatone is a repellent for Formosan subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus), J Chem. Eco/27 523-531,2001. 

Cornelius M. L. and Brand J. M. (2001) Trail-following behavior of Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae) is there a species-specific response Environ. Entomol. 30, 457 -65. 

McDaniel, C. A. (1990). Cuticular hydrocarbons of the Formosan termite Coptotermes formosanus. Sociobiology, 16, 265-273. 

Brown, W.V., Watson, J.A.L. and Lacey, M. J. (1994). The cuticular hydrocarbons of three Australian Coptotermes species, C. michaelseni, C. brunneus, and C. dreghorni (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology, 23, 277-291. 

Haverty, M.I., Grace, J.K., Nelson, L.J. and Yamamoto, R.T. (1996c). Intercaste, intercolony, and temporal variation in cuticular hydrocarbons of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera Rhinotermitidae). J. Chem. Ecol., 22,1813-1834. 

Haverty, M.I., Nelson, L. J. and Page, M. (1990a). Cuticular hydrocarbons of four populations of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki in the United States. Similarities and origins of introductions../. Chem. Ecol., 16,1635-1647. 

Lo, N., Eldridge, R.H. andLenz, M. (2006). Phylogeny of Australian Coptotermes (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) species inferred from mitochondrial COII sequences. Bull. Entomol. Res., 96,433-437. 

Direct evidence for the use of hydrocarbons in nestmate recognition in social insects has been accumulating over the last fifteen years. When workers of the subterranean termites Reticulitermes speratus and Coptotermes formosanus were topically supplemented with the purified hydrocarbon profile of the other species, this was followed by an increase of aggression by nestmate soldiers (Takahashi and Gassa, 1995). Similarly, the topical application of (Z)-9-C23 1 onto the cuticle of workers of the ant Camponotus vagus resulted in increased antennation and threat in the form of mandible opening (Meskali et al., 1995b). These examples, however, concern qualitatively different hydrocarbons, and thus not variation in abundance that is typical for colonies of the same species. 

Table 4 Laboratory Tests of Epichlorohydrin-Treated Wood Exposed to the Subterranean Termites Coptotermes formosanus ...

Table 6 Weight Lx)ss (WL) of Formalized Cedar and Beech Blocks Due to Termite Attack After Forced-Feeding Tests with Coptotermes formosams for 9 Weeks and with Reticulitermes speratus for 2 or 4 Weeks...

Wood Reaction phase Time (h) Coptotermes formosanus WL (%) Reticulitermes speratus... 

Figure 2 Mortality of worker termites of Coptotermes formosanus fed on formalized...

Agent Cone. (%r Coptotermes formosanus Reticulitermes speratus ... 

Number-averaged molecular weight, Tyromyces palustris, Coriolus versicolor, soil burial, Coptotermes formosanus. 

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