The relationship between intercolony aggression levels in Reticulitermes flavipes and the geographic distance between colony pairings was investigated. Levels of aggression were highly variable at all distances examined. In addition, a histogram of the aggression data showed a strongly bimodal distribution with two large peaks at "completely aggressive" and "no aggression". There was a significant difference in the level of aggression demonstrated between colonies found in close proximity to one another (0.1 – 7.9 km), and those found farther apart (8.0 – 60.1 km). Closer colonies were more likely to be passive toward one another.
Species 1: Isoptera Rhinotermitidae Reticulitermes flavipes (Eastern subterranean termite)
Keywords: agonism, antagonism
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