Mechanisms of recruitment for the retrieval of food in Amitermes evuncifer Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae)

Abstract

Abstract-The study revealed that there was quantitative recruitment in colonies of Amitermes evuncifer, whenever food was discovered by the scouting foragers. Discovered food stimulated the termites to accelerate their running speed, to and from the food source. Increased trail-laying activity, accelerated movement and carrying of food by the returning workers facilitated recruitment of other confederates from their nest. These activities equally directed the recruited termites to the food source.Amitermes evuncifer was observed to regulate traffic in relation to newly discovered food source. The results showed that there was rapid communication between the termites of food source within 3^ min. It was further observed that the trail to newly found food source did not become dominant over the trail to the already existing food source. The results showed clearly the effect of food on vital activities of termites. On a pu observer que 1'Amitermes evuncifer regit le trafic vers des sources d'alimentation nouvellement decouvertes. Les donnees montrent que les renseignements sur la decouverte des sources d'alimentation sont transmis parti les termites en trois ou quatre minutes environi apres la decouverte. On a note egalement que les traces menant a une source d'alimentation nouvellement decouverte n'a aucun avantage sur une source qui preexistat. Les donnees demontrent clairement les effets qu'ont les vivres sur les activites essentielles des termites.

Systematic search for food in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes santonensis De Feytaud (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae)

“…These are termite species typically with low soldier proportions (1-5%), in which soldiers are exclusively involved in alarm and defense behaviour protecting tunnel and gallery openings against intruders (Kaib, 1987;Wells and Henderson, 1993). Regardless of their feeding patterns, soldier-initiated foraging on the other hand is evident in some species within the Nasutitermitinae, Termitinae, and Rhinotermitinae (Hewitt et al, 1969;Jander and Daumer, 1974;Nutting et al, 1974;Oloo and Leuthold, 1979;Traniello, 1981;Omo Malaka and Leuthold, 1986;Rickli and Leuthold, 1987;Schedel and Kaib, 1987;Miura and Matsumoto, 1995). It is usually found in species with a rather high soldier proportion (up to 40%) like e.g., in the Nasutitermitinae or in Schedorhinotermes lamanianus, a species of the same family as R. santonensis (Deligne et al, 1981;Kaib, 1985).…”

Exploratory and recruitment phases in soldier-mediated foraging activities in the termite,Coptotermes intermediusSilvestri (Rhinotermitidae: Coptotermitinae)

“…Therefore, investigating this aspect of termite behaviour had been a herculean task. A few studies on foraging and exploratory activities in termites had been carried out by Traniello & Buscher (1985), Malaka & Leuthold (1986), Malaka (1987), Kaib (1990), Olugbemi & Malaka (1994, 2007, Traniello et al (2000) and Casarin et al (2008).…”

“…This unusual role by soldiers in social insects, according to Traniello (1981), appears to be a component of a foraging/defence system that controls the recruitment of foragers and effectively deters attacks by ants. Malaka & Leuthold (1986) observed quantitative recruitment in colonies of Amitermes evuncifer whenever food was discovered by the scouting foragers. Olugbemi & Malaka (1994, 2007 established the generation of recruitment activities and communication by pheromones in Microcerotermes fuscotibialis whenever food was detected by the scouting foragers.…”

Establishment of foraging trail and qualification of trail pheromone by Amitermes evuncifer Silvestri (Isoptera; Termitidae; Termitinae)

“…This experiment was recorded in two parts (see Malaka and Leuthold, 1986). This was glued to the centre of a larger wooden platform which was then glued to two supports (wooden stands) so that the platform was level and elevated horizontally.…”

“…After normal foraging had begun between the nest and the two arenas, two constructed, grooved-covered trail-collection bridges were connected to the middles of the two foraging channels respectively (see Malaka and Leuthold, 1986, for detailed description). After normal foraging had begun between the nest and the two arenas, two constructed, grooved-covered trail-collection bridges were connected to the middles of the two foraging channels respectively (see Malaka and Leuthold, 1986, for detailed description).…”