Analysis of the responses of termites to tunnel irregularity

Subterranean termites build extensive underground galleries consisting of elaborate tunnels and channels to forage food resources. Diverse soil conditions surrounding the tunnels, such as soil density, may cause irregularities in the size and shape of the tunnels, and termites are likely to encounter a number of tunnel irregularities while traveling. Considering the tunnel length, how termites respond to an irregularity is likely to affect their movement efficiency, and this in turn is directly correlated to their foraging efficiency. To understand the response of termites, we designed an artificial linear tunnel with rectangular irregularities in a two-dimensional arena. The tunnel widths, W, were 3 mm and 4 mm. The rectangular irregularities were 2 mm in width and of varying heights H (H = 2, 1, 0, -1, and -2 mm). The positive and negative sign of H represents a convex and concave structure, respectively. We systematically observed the movement of termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, at the irregularity and quantified the time needed, τ, for a termite to pass the irregularity. The time τ was shorter for (W, H) = (3, 0) and (3, -1) than for (W, H) = (3, 1), (3, 2), and (3, -2). The time τ was longer for (W, H) = (4,-1), and (4, -2), than for (W, H) = (4, 0), (4, 1) and (4, 2). Four types of behaviors explained the response to the irregularity. The implications of these findings are briefly discussed in relation to termite foraging efficiency.