The nutritional value of twelve species of wood to the Formosan subterranean termite was studied. Incipient colonies of Coptotermes formosanus were reared in 50 X 9 mm petri dishes with 3g of dust from each wood species and 70% distilled water. Alate stages of C. formosanus were collected by light trap and allowed to pair in the lab. A total of 720 pairs were selected (60 per treatment), placed inside the petri dishes and reared at 27°C, 95% RH, and total darknes. Survival of pairs was monitored every 15 days for the first 6 months and montly for the next 6 months. Progeny was counted monthly for the first 3 months and then at 6 and 12 months. The highest survival was observed in douglas fir, aspen, and red gum treatments; however, the highest fecundity was observed in the Pecan and red gum treatments. The highest mortality and lowest fecundity were observed in bald cypress, Southern yellow pine, ponderosa pine, and ash.
Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite)
Keywords: Nutrition
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