Effect of bait supplements on the feeding and tunneling behavior of the Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract:
This study evaluated the effects of two commercially available products that have been used to supplement bait stations on feeding and tunneling behavior of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. A bioassay was conducted to examine the effects of water-soluble chemicals extracted from Summon™ disks on tunneling behavior. The average number of days taken for termites to discover pipette tips filled with material from ground-up disks was significantly less than the average number of days taken for termites to discover pipette tips filled with red oak sawdust. Feeding and tunneling tests were also conducted to determine how termites responded to the sports drink, Gatorade. Paired choice tests were conducted to compare the effect of Gatorade and water extracts of disks on feeding and tunneling behavior. There was no difference in the consumption of filter paper disks treated with Gatorade versus filter paper disks treated with water only and there was significantly greater consumption of filter paper disks treated with a water extract of disks versus filter paper disks treated with Gatorade. In paired choice tests, termites tunneled through sand moistened with water faster than through sand moistened with Gatorade and through sand moistened with a water extract of disks faster than through sand moistened with Gatorade. In this study, SummonTM disks showed more promise than Gatorade as an effective bait supplement for Formosan subterranean termites.