Age polyethism of workers in incipient colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki

Three-year old incipient colonies of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were placed in planar arenas, and their behavioral repertoire and activities at different distance from the colony center, i.e. egg pile, was recorded by using a video camera. Two instar each of larva and worker caste were identified by measuring the head width of individuals. Larvae were fed and groomed by workers. First instar workers did most of the grooming in the colony, but second instar workers tunneled through sand to feed on wood. There was trophallaxis between workers of the same instar and between the first and second instar. Larvae were primarily fed by the first instar workers through stomodeal feeding, suggesting an age polyethism among workers of the young colonies of C. formosanus.