Rearing Two Subterranean Termites, Reticulitermes flavipes and Coptotermes formosanus, on Artificial Diets1

Abstract

Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki termites survived, maintained their weight, and reproduced as well on several artificial diets as they did on a wood block control. The best diet for R. flavipes, and possibly for C. formosanus, included alpha-cellulose (34.06%), water (65.87%), a sterol (0.06%), and methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (0.01%). Casein or albumen (0.05%) may be added, but their value is questionable, and at levels of 0.5% or greater both proteins were toxic to the termites. Both β-sitosterol and ergosterol gave better results than cholesterol. This diet is suitable for physiological or nutritional studies and may be satisfactory for maintaining laboratory colonies of termites.