Evaluation of dyed agar versus dyed filter paper for marking Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus)

Feeding lipid soluble dyes to termites has become a widely used and successful practice to mark individual termites for mark-release-recapture protocols, which allow researchers to study subterranean termite ecology, delineate foraging territories, and estimate colony size.  Typically, dye is introduced into termites via dyed filter paper.  A novel method of feeding dyed agar to termites has been developed to conduct mark-release-recapture protocols for many years in lieu of dyed filter paper.  In this study, this technique was compared to the standard technique of using dyed filter paper, and it has been determined which method allows termites to acquire dye faster and remain visibly dyed longer, and which method causes the lowest mortality.