Termite Reticulitermes flavipes

Nguyen KB, Smart GC. Neosteinernema longicurvicauda n. gen. n. sp. (Rhabditida steinemematidae) a parasite of the termite. Reticulitermes flavipes (Koller). J Nematol. 1994 26 162-174. 

Rowell etal. (1987b) produced PF-bonded flakeboard from acetylated southern pine (21.6 % WPG) or aspen (17.6 % WPG) flakes. This was not completely resistant to attack by termites Reticulitermes flavipes) in a 4-week test. It was thought that acetylation was less effective in preventing termite attack than other chemical modifications because cellulose decomposition in the intestines of termites leads to acetic acid formation in any case. 

In most cases the double bonds are not conjugated. One exception is the conjugated diene (Z,Z)-7,9-pentacosadiene identified in the termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Howard et al., 1978). In every case where determined, the double bonds are in the (Z) configuration (Blomquist et al., 1987). 

Howard, R.W., McDaniel, C.A. and Blomquist, G.J. (1978). Cuticular hydrocarbons of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)... 

Matsumura et al. (25) identified (Z,Z.,E)-3,6,8-dodecatrien-l-ol in extracts of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes and reported that this compound was a powerful releaser of trail following for workers. However, this compound is also produced by the fungus Lenzites trabea which infects the wood fed upon by R. flavipes. The significance of the dodecatrienol in the biology of this termite has recently been examined in considerable detail (26). 

Constit. of the cuticular hydrocarbons of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Mp 56 . 

PER 10a] Perdereau E., Dedeine F., Christides J.-P. et al, Variations in worker cuticular hydrocarbons and soldier isoprenoid defensive secretions within and among introduced and native populations of the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes". Journal of Chemical Ecology, vol. 36, pp. 1189-1198, 2010. 

Particleboards and flakeboards made from acetylated flakes have been tested for resistance to several different t5 pes of organisms. In a 4-week termite test using Reticulitermes flavipes (subterranean termites), boards acetylated at 16 to 17 WPG were very resistant to attack, but not completely so (, 36,37) This may be attributed to the severity of the test. However, since termites can live on acetic acid and decompose cellulose to mainly acetic acid, perhaps it is not surprising that acetylated wood is not completely resistant to termite attack. 

Figure 2.8. Comparison of chemical signatures of two termite species present in Europe, an invasive, Reticulitermes flavipes, originating kom the USA, and an endemic, R. grassei (from [PER 11])...

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. 

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). 

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