Suggestion of an Environmental Influence on Intercolony Agonism of Formosan Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract

The role of environmental factors in the intercolonial kin recognition of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki was investigated using laboratory colonies under similar environmental conditions. Investigation of the parental field colonies found prediction of agonistic interactions based on geographic distance to be unreliable. Agonism did not occur between non-nestmate groups from laboratory colonies. Pairings of field and laboratory groups demonstrated reduced agonism. These results suggested that an environmental cue is part of a multiple component system for intercolony kin recognition in this species.