Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2003
Publication Title
Sociobiology
Volume
41
Issue
1
Pages
197-202
Abstract
The factors that influence rates of soldier production in subterranean termites are poorly understood. In the present study, foraging groups of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki were collected from baldcypress trees in Lake Charles, Lousiana, in November 1985, and February, April/May and August 1986. Termites were maintained in the laboratory for nine months, seven months, four/five months and zero months, respectively, and then examined for survivorship, termite biomass and soldier production after incubation for an additional five weeks at 30° C. Within collection periods, there was no association between survivorship and soldier production or between mean dry biomass and soldier production. However, termites maintained for longer periods in the laboratory had significantly greater survivorship, termite dry biomass and soldier production than recently collected termites. It is unclear whether termite age or season of collection influenced these results.
Rights
© 2002 Deborah Waller
Published under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) License.
Original Publication Citation
Waller, D. (2003). Increase in biomass and soldier production for Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) workers maintained in the laboratory for up to nine months. Sociobiology, 41(1), 197-202.
Repository Citation
Waller, Deborah, "Increase in Biomass and Soldier Production for Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) Workers Maintained in the Laboratory for Up to Nine Months" (2003). Biological Sciences Faculty Publications. 544.
https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_fac_pubs/544