Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T19:20:12.720Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Suitability of multiple Mediterranean oak species as a food resource for Reticulitermes grassei Clément (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 November 2017

A.M. Cárdenas ,
P. Gallardo  and
D. Toledo
A.M. Cárdenas*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Campus Rabanales, University of Córdoba, Córdoba E-14071, Spain
P. Gallardo
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Campus Rabanales, University of Córdoba, Córdoba E-14071, Spain
D. Toledo
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Campus Rabanales, University of Córdoba, Córdoba E-14071, Spain
*
*Author for correspondence Tel: +34 957 218604 Fax: + 34 957 218605 E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The subterranean termite Reticulitermes grassei Clément causes lesions in the trunk of Quercus suber L. by constructing feeding galleries, but no information is available regarding other Quercus species from the Mediterranean region. This work aimed to study the suitability of the other main oak species of Mediterranean forests as a food resource for R. grassei. Two experiments, choice and non-choice feeding, were conducted lasting for 15, 30, and 45 days each. In the non-choice experiment, termites were offered one of the following food types: Quercus suber, Quercus ilex L., Quercus faginea Lam, cork or Pinus pinea L., which was considered the control. The choice feeding experiment used all the same food types listed above, supplied simultaneously in the same container. Food selection was examined by analysing the relationships over time between surviving termites and food consumption. The results indicated that R. grassei could be considered a generalist species, as it consumed the cork and wood of all oak species, as well as displaying a clear preference for soft wood (pine). Correlation analysis indicated that consumption was not dependent on wood density. Survival of R. grassei was influenced by the time of exposure to different oak species, but a high survival rate was maintained over time in the pine treatment (upper 70% in the three experiments). Given these results, it can be concluded that all the oak species are a suitable food source for R. grassei.

Keywords

feeding preferencesIsopteraQuercusReticulitermes grasseiRhinotermitidaesubterranean termites
Type
Research Papers
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 108 , Issue 4 , August 2018 , pp. 532 - 539
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abreu, R.L.S. & Silva, K.E.S. (2000) Resistência natural de dez espécies madereiras da Amazônia ao ataque de Nasutitermes macrocephalus (Silvestre) e N. surinamensis (Holmgren) (Isoptera: Termitidae). Revista Árvore 24, 229–234.Google Scholar
Alcaide, M.E. (2010) Estudio del control integral de una plaga urbana de termitas en el sur de España. Dissertation, University of Córdoba, Spain.Google Scholar
Arinana, L., Tsunoda, K., Herliyana, E.N. & Hadi, Y.S. (2012) Termite-susceptible species of wood for inclusion as a reference in Indonesian standardized laboratory testing. Insects 3, 396–401.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Behr, E.A., Behr, C.T. & Wilson, L.F. (1972) Influence of wood hardness on feeding by eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Annals of Entomological Society of America 65, 457–460.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bultman, D., Beal, R.H. & Ampong, F.F.K. (1979) Natural resistance of some tropical African woods to Coptotermes formosanus Shirak. Forest Products Journal 29, 46–51.Google Scholar
Cárdenas, A.M. & Bach, C. (1989) The effect of some abiotic factors on the distribution and selection of habitat by the Carabid Beetles in the Central Sierra Morena Mountains (SW Córdoba. Spain). Vie Milieu 39(2), 93–103.Google Scholar
Cárdenas, A.M., Moyano, L., Gallardo, P. & Hidalgo, J.M. (2012) Field activity of Reticulitermes grassei (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in oak forests of the Southern Iberian Peninsula. Sociobiology 59(1), 493–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, F.L. & Smythe, R.V. (1974) Feeding and survival responses of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) to extractives of wood from 11 coniferous genera. Holzforschung 28, 41–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chouvenc, T., Bardunias, P., Li, H-F., Elliot, M.L. & Su, N.Y. (2011) Planar Arenas for use in Laboratory Bioassay Studies of Subterranean Termites (Rhinotermitidae). Florida Entomologist 94(4), 817–826.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clément, J.L., Bagnères, A.G., Uva, P., Wilfert, L., Quintana, A., Reinhard, J. & Dronnet, S. (2001) Biosystematics of Reticulitermes termites in Europe: morphological, chemical and molecular data. Insectes Sociaux 48, 202–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cogollor, G. (2002) Dinámica poblacional de agentes de daño asociados a bosque native. pp. 351–372 in Baldini, A. & Pancel, L. (Eds) Agentes de daño en el bosque nativo. Santiago de Chile, Ed. Universitaria.Google Scholar
Coulson, R.N. & Lund, A.E. (1973) Degradation of wood by insects. pp. 277–305 in D.D, Nichols. (Ed.) Wood Deterioration and Its Prevention. New York, Syracuse University Press.Google Scholar
Dudareva, N., Pichersky, E. & Gershenzon, J. (2004) Biochemistry of plants volatiles. Plant Physiology 135, 1893–1902.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
EN 118 (2013) Wood Preservatives: Determination of Preventive Action Against Reticulitermes Species (European Termites) (Laboratory Method). Brussels, Belgium, European Committee for Standardization, BSI Standards Publication, CEN-CENELEC.Google Scholar
Gaju, M., Notario, M.J. & Bach, C. (1996) Estudio preliminar sobre las preferencias alimentarias de Reticulitermes lucifugus (Rossi) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). VII Congreso Ibérico de Entomología, Santiago de Compostela, España.Google Scholar
Gaju, M., Notario, M.J., Mora, R., Alcaide, E., Moreno, T., Molero, R. & Bach, C. (2002) Termite damage to buildings in the province of Córdoba, Spain. Sociobiology 40, 75–85.Google Scholar
Gaju, M., Moyano, L., Alcaide, E., Patiño, C., Diz, J., Nunes, L., Bach, C. & Molero, R. (2010) Laboratory study of fipronil baits against Reticulitermes grassei (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in Proceeding of 41st Annual Meeting the International Research Group on Wood Protection, Biarritz, France.Google Scholar
Gallardo, P. (2011) Incidencia de coleópteros perforadores en formaciones de Quercíneas del suroeste peninsular: evaluación de daños y propuestas para la conservación. Dissertation, Córdoba University, Spain.Google Scholar
Gallardo, P., Cárdenas, A.M. & Gaju, M. (2010) Occurrence of Reticulitermes grassei (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on cork oaks in the southern Iberian Peninsula: identification, description and incidence of the damage. Sociobiology 56(3), 675–687.Google Scholar
Gallardo, P., Cárdenas, A.M. & Murillo, R. (2016) Suitability of Substrate for Laboratory Studies with the Subterranean Termite Reticulitermes grassei Clément (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 63(2), 855–857.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Getty, G.M., Solek, C.W., Sbragia, R.J., Haverty, M.I. & Lewis, V.R. (2005) Suppression of a subterranean termite community (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae, Reticulitermes) using a baiting system: a case study in Chatsworth, California, USA. pp. 165–169 in Lee, C.Y. & Robinson, W.H. (Eds) Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Urban Pest, Singapore. Printed by Perniagaan Ph'ng @ P&Y Design Network, Malaysia.Google Scholar
Grace, J.K. & Yamamoto, R. (1994) Natural resistance of Alaska-cedar, redwood, and teak to Formosan subterranean termites. Forest Products Journal 44(3), 41–45.Google Scholar
Grace, J.K., Wood, D.L. & Frankie, G.W. (1989) Behavior and survival of Reticulitermes hesperus Banks (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) on selected sawdusts and wood extracts. Journal of Chemical Ecology 15, 129–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gutiérrez, A. & Plaza, F. (1967) Características fisicomecánicas de las maderas españolas. Madrid, Instituto Forestal de Investigaciones y Experiencias, Ministerio de Agricultura.Google Scholar
Haagsma, K.A. & Rust, M.K. (1995) Colony size estimates, foraging trends, and physiological characteristics of the western subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Environmental Entomology 24, 1520–1528.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haverty, M.I. (1979) Selection of tunneling substrates for laboratory studies with three subterranean termite species. Sociobiology 4(3), 315–320.Google Scholar
Haverty, M.I. & Nutting, W.L. (1975) Natural wood preferences of desert termites. Annals of Entomology Society of America 68, 533–536.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haverty, M.I., Getty, G.M., Copren, K.A. & Lewis, V.R. (1999) Seasonal foraging and feeding behavior of Reticulitermes spp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in a wildland and a residential location in northern California. Population Ecology 28(6), 1077–1084.Google Scholar
Kačík, F., Veľková, V., Šmíra, P., Nasswettrová, A., Kačíková, D. & Reinprecht, L. (2012) Release of terpenes from fir woods during its long-term use and in thermal treatment. Molecules 17(8), 9990–9999.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kesselmeier, J. & Staudt, M. (1999) Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): an overview on emission, physiology and ecology. Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry 33, 23–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kutnik, M., Uva, P., Brinkworth, L. & Bagnères, A.G. (2004) Phylogeography of two European Reticulitermes (Isoptera) species: the Iberian refugium. Molecular Ecology 13, 3099–3113.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lai, P.Y., Tamashiro, M., Yates, J.R., Su, N.Y., Fujii, J.K. & Ebesu, R.H. (1983) Living plants in Hawaii attacked by Coptotermes formosanus. Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 24, 283–286.Google Scholar
Lavoir, A.V. (2004) Résistance aux stress thermique et lumineux et émissions de COV chez deux espèces de chênes méditerranéens (Quercus ilex et Quercus suber). Biosciences de L'environnement, Chimie et Sante.Google Scholar
Martín, D., Gershenzon, J. & Bohlmann, J. (2003) Induction of volatile terpene biosynthesis and diurnal emission by methyl jasmonate in foliage of Norway spruce. Plant Physiology 132, 1586–1599.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Morales-Ramos, J.A. & Rojas, M.G. (2001) Nutritional ecology of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae): feeding response to commercial wood species. Journal of Economic Entomology 94(2), 516–523.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nagnan, P. & Clément, J.L. (1990) Terpenes from the maritime pine Pinus pinaster: toxins for subterranean termites of the genus Reticulitermes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 18, 13–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peralta, R.C.G., Menezes, E.B., Carvalho, A.G. & Aguiar-Menezes, E.L. (2004) Wood consumption rates of forest species by subterranean termites (Isoptera) under field conditions. Revista Árvore 28(2), 283–289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Perkins, G.D. (2012) Reticulitermes feeding preference and experimental design. Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia.Google Scholar
Pinzon, O.P., Houseman, R.M. & Starbuck, C.J. (2006) Feeding, weight change, survival and aggregation of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in seven varieties of differentially-aged mulch. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 24(1), 1–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pio, C., Nunes, T. & Brito, S. (1993) Volatile hydrocarbon emissions from common and native species of vegetation in Portugal. pp. 291–298 in Slanina, J., Angeletti, G. & Beilke, S. (Eds) Air Pollution Report 47. Brussels, Belgium, Guyot SA.Google Scholar
Price, P.W. (1984) Insect Ecology. New York, USA, Wiley.Google Scholar
Reinhard, J., Hertel, H. & Kaib, M. (1997) Systematic search for food in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes santonensis De Feytaud (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Insectes Sociaux 44, 147–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reyes, R., Viveros, N. & Pérez, V. (1995) Resistencia natural de trece maderas mexicanas al ataque de termitas subterráneas. Madera y Bosques 1(1), 39–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rojas, M.G., Morales-Ramos, J.A., Lockwwod, E., Etheridge, L., Carroll, J.B., Coker, M.C.H. & Knight, P.R. (2008) Areawide management of subterranean termites in south Mississippi using baits. Agricultural Research Service 1917, 1–44.Google Scholar
Sánchez-Osorio, I., López-Pantoja, G., Tapias, R., Pareja, E. & Domínguez, L. (2013) Emisión de monoterpenos foliares afectados por Cerambyx welensii Küster (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). 6° Congreso Forestal Español, Vitoria-Gazteiz. Available online at http://www.cefe.cnrs.fr/fe/pdf/Memoire2004_Lavoir.pdf (accessed March 8, 2017).Google Scholar
Scheffrahn, R.H. (1991) Allelochemical resistance of wood to termites. Sociobiology 19(1), 257–281.Google Scholar
Silva, P., Nunes, T., Campos, C., Mariz, M. & Pio, C. (1999) Emissoes de compostos orgânicos voláteis pela floresta de sobreiro em Portugal. pp. 627–637 in Actas 6ª Conferência Nacional sobre a Qualidade do Ambiente. Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente, Facultade de Ciências e Tecnología, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.Google Scholar
Smythe, R.V. & Carter, F.L. (1970) Feeding responses to sound wood by Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flavipes and R. virginicus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 63(3), 841–847.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smythe, R.V., Carter, F.L. & Baxter, C.C. (1971) Influence of wood decay on feeding and survival of the eastern subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Ibid 64, 59–62.Google Scholar
SPSS 20.0 (2011) SPSS 20.0 for Windows Use Manual (version 20.0).Google Scholar
Staudt, M., Mir, C., Joffre, R., Rambal, S., Bonin, A., Landais, D. & Lumaret, R. (2004) Isoprenoid emission of Quercus spp. (Q. suber and Q. ilex) in mixed stands contrasting in interspecific genetic introgression. New Phytologist 163, 573–584.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Su, N.Y. & La Fage, J.P. (1984a) Differences in survival and feeding activity among colonies of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae). Zeitschrift für Angewandte Entomologie 97, 134–138.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Su, N.Y. & La Fage, J.P. (1984b) Comparison of laboratory methods for estimating wood consumption rates by Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 77(2), 125–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Su, N.Y. & Scheffrahn, R.H. (1994) Field evaluation of hexaflumuron bait for population suppression of subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 87, 389–397.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suoja, S.B., Lewis, V.R., Wood, D.L. & Wilson, M. (1999) Comparisons of single and group bioassays on attraction and arrestment of Reticulitermes sp. (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to selected cellulosic materials. Sociobiology 33, 125–135.Google Scholar
Waller, D.A. (1988) Host selection in subterranean termites: factors affecting choice (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Sociobiology 14(1), 5–13.Google Scholar
Waller, D.A., Jones, C.G. & La Fage, J.P. (1990) Measuring wood preference in termites. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 56, 117–123.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zar, J.H. (1999) Biostatistical Analysis. 5th edn. New Jersey, Prentice Hall. Available online at http://www.usgr.com/soil-sterilization (accessed 8 March, 2017).Google Scholar