Formosan subterranean termite feeding preference as basis for bait matrix development (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
2003; UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE FEIRA DE SANTANA; Volume: 41; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
2447-8067
AutoresJuan A. Morales-Ramos, M. Guadalupe Rojas,
Tópico(s)Insect and Pesticide Research
ResumoThe chemical composition of the most preferred wood species by the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermesformosanus Shiraki, was used as basis for the development of a nutritionally-based bait matrix against subterranean termites. Feeding preferences of the Formosan subterranean termite were determined in a multiple-choice feeding test. Twenty-four commercially available wood species were exposed simultaneously in a circular arena to groups of 2,500 Formosan termites for a period of 40 days at 27°C and 95% RH. The most preferred wood species were yellow birch (Betulla alleghaniensis), red gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), Parana pine (Araucaria angustifolia), sugar maple (Acersaccharum), pecan (Carya illinoensis), and red oak (Quercus rubra) in order of preference by C. formosanus. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the contents of sugars, amino acids, and inorganic salts present in these wood species. Gas chromatography was used to determine the content of fatty acids and esterols in the same wood species. A bait matrix was formulated based on these chemical analyses using pure cellulose as the basic ingredient. Formosan subterranean termites significantly preferred the bait matrix over southern yellow pine wood (Pinus taeda L.) in laboratory and field evaluations.
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