SEASONAL FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF RETICULITERMES SPP. (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, USA

Abstract:
Monitoring stations of were used to observe foraging and feeding behavior of Reticulitermes at the Institute of Forest Genetics (IFG) near Placerville, and at a site in Novato. At IFG 53 monitoring stations were used by cuticular hydrocarbon phenotype A, 10 by phenotype B, and 5 by phenotype C. At Novato 14 stations were occupied by phenotype A’ and 12 by phenotype D. Monitoring stations were examined monthly for 3 yr at IFG and 2 yr at Novato. The percentage of stations occupied by termites ranged from 76.7-89.3% at IFG and 81.2-93.5% at Novato. Foraging at IFG was low in the late fall through early spring and high from June to October. At Novato foraging was highest from June to November or December. An estimated 188,750 foragers were collected from all monitoring station at IFG in October 1995, and an estimated 46,550 foragers from all station at Novato in August 1995 and June 1996.