Laboratory response of the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, to neighboring populations of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus, baited with noviflumuron

A previous study on the reinvasion behavior of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, showed that C. formosanus reinvaded neighboring con-specific colonies baited with noviflumuron, and subsequently perish. This study focuses on another economically important subterranean termite, the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar and its interaction with baited C. formosanus. Both species occur in the Southeastern region of the United States and they encounter each other, especially in Southern Florida, where they compete for territory and resources.

Upon encounter, R. flavipes retreated and blocked tunnels at choke points as C. formosanus attempted to invade. C. formosanus attempted to invade R. flavipes colonies regardless of their health status; control colonies and baited.  Even moribund, C. formosanus colonies exhibited aggressive behavior against neighboring R. flavipes colonies, but in two of the three replicates, R. flavipes successfully prevented invasions by moribund C. formosanus. One R. flavipes group reinvaded the former territory of baited C. formosanus. The single reinvading R. flavipes group was subsequently eliminated by bait.