Laboratory assays confirmed widespread predication that Coptotermes formosanus is much more aggressive than Reticulitermes flavipes, but also evidenced ferocious mutual agonistic behavior between these two species. Interspecific aggressive bioassays demonstrated that both soldiers (Fs) and workers (Fw) of C. formosanus were more active and aggressive than R. flavipes’s soldiers (Rs) and workers (Rw). In all the tests, R. flavipes suffered substantially great injury during the 10-minute observation, and significantly higher mortality 24 h later in comparison with C. formosanus, except for the bioassay between Fw and Rs which resulted similar degree of injury and mortality. Interestingly, workers of both species exhibited agonistic behavior with or without the presence of soldiers. The pre-alate (last instar before emerging into alate) of R. flavipes lacked of attack ability.
Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan subterranean termite)
Species 2: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes flavipes (native subterranean termite)
Keywords: interspecies aggression, agonism
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