Food Transmission within the Cryptotermes brevis Colony (Isoptera: Kalotermitidae)

Abstract

Transmission of food within artificial “colonies” of Cryptotermes brevis (Walker) nymphs was studied, using radioactive cobalt as a tracer. Four different colony densities (25, 50, 100, and 200 termites) and 4 different intervals of exposure to a single radioactive donor (12, 24, 48, and 96 hours) were tested. As expected, the larger the colony and the longer the exposure interval, the more nymphs became radioactive. In the 25-member colony showing the fastest transmission rate, colony saturation reached virtually 100% in 96 hours, while the highest percentage reached by a 200-member colony for the same interval was 50%. The average amount of radioactivity per termite decreased significantly with increase in density, but appeared not to be appreciably affected by time. Pellet production by individuals declined significantly with time, but was not significantly affected by density.