Reticulitermes virginicus

Howard R. W., McDaniel C. A. and Blomquist G. J. (1982) Chemical mimicry as an integrating mechanism for three termitophiles associated with Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks). Psyche 89, 157-167. 

Howard, R. W., McDaniel, C. A., Nelson, D. R Blomquist, G.J., Gelbaum, L.T. and Zalkow, L.H. (1982a). Cuticular hydrocarbons of Reticulitermes virginicus (Banks) and their role as potential species- and caste-recognition cues../. Chem. Ecol., 8, 1227-1239. 

Reticulitermes virginicus and R.flavipes are two sympatric termite species with distinctly different cuticular hydrocarbons which function as species recognition cues. They also have different termitophilous cohorts which possess the same cuticular chemical substance as their host. Thus, R.flavipes is associated with Tricopsenius frostii while R. virginicus is associated with T. depressus, Xenistusa hexagonalis and Philotermes howardii (582-586). 

Howard, R.W., C.A. MacDaniel, D.R. Nelson, G.J. Blomquist, L.T. Gelbaum, and L.H. Zalkow Cuticular Hydrocarbons of Reticulitermes virginicus and their Role as Potential Species and Caste Recognition Cues. J. Chem. Ecol. 8, 1227-1239 (1982). 

Reticulitermes virginicus, probably taken up from food source... 

Clement, J.-L., Howard, R., Blum, M. S. and Lloyd, H. (1986). Isolement specifique des termites du genre Reticulitermes du sud-est des Etats-unis. Mise en evidence grace a la chimie et au comportement d une espbce jumelle de R. virginicus R. malletei sp. nov. et d une semi-species de R. flavipes. C. R. Acad. Sci., 302, 67-70. 

The soldier secretions of the North American species, Reticulitermes flavipes and R. virginicus contain none of the above compounds, but two sesquiterpenes, y-cadinene and its aldehyde (Fig. 16.11), have been isolated from both species (Zalkow et a/., 1981). These compounds, or attack by soldiers, apparently... 

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