The food preferences of Reticulitermes chinensis and Coptotermesformosanus to some common tree species in theZhenjiang area
Author of the article:HUANG Hai-Di1** TIAN Jie1 XIE Rong-Rong2 SUN Jian-Zhong2***
Author's Workplace:1. Zhenjiang Institute of Termite Control, Zhenjiang 212000, China; 2. Biofuels Institute of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
Key Words:Reticulitermes chinensis, Coptotermes formosanus, wood, feeding preferences
Abstract:
[Objectives] To investigate the food preference of Reticulitermes
chinensis and Coptotermes formosanus for wood of some common tree species in the Zhenjiang
area, the influence of termites and wood species on termite feeding preferences
and mortality were analyzed. This study provides a scientific basis for future
termite control and prevention. [Methods] The experimental design was a no-choice test
designed to test feeding preferences and mortality of two termites species with
respect to 7 different wood species, including Cinnamonum campora, Ginkgo
biloba, Metasequoia glyptostrodoides, Salix babylonica, Magnolia grandiflora, Eriobotrya japonica and Pinus massoniana. The termites’ feeding
preferences were determined by wood consumption rate, i.e. mg wood/gram of
termite/day. The data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance. [Results] The results show that both termite species and
wood source had a significant effect on wood consumption rate and mortality. Among
the tested 7 wood types,the most preferred
by R. chinensis were those of S. babylonica and P.massoniana woods, which had consumption rates of 31.46 and 30.59
mg/g body weight/day, respectively. For C.
formosanus, the most preferred
wood types were those of P. massoniana, M. glyptostrodoides, and G. biloba, with respective consumption
rates of 26.53, 21.82 and 21.81 mg/g body weight/day. Two termite species showed
significant differences in wood consumption rates when feeding on the wood of G. biloba, S. babylonica and M.grandiflora,
but no significant differences were apparent with respect to wood from the
other four tree species. [Conclusion] This investigation shows that both wood consumption rate and termite mortality
are significantly influenced by termite and tree species. Two termite species had
significant preferences for the wood of different trees, but in general, the
lowest termite mortality was observed when termites fed on P. massoniana wood.