Directional response of the subterranean termite Coptotermes curvignathus toward volatilized Pinus merkusii extract

Abstract

Abstract Preliminary study on termite recognition for food source location was carried out by the subjection of volatile compounds emitted by Sumatran Pine (Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese). Food source recognition by termite was evaluated using a set-up model on the inverted Y-tube apparatus. The apparatus consisted of a release chamber, in which five workers had been released; an intersection chamber, in which termite movement would be evaluated for clockwise and counter-clockwise movements; and a pair of food chamber. Between the intersection chamber and food chambers, a tunnel with 5 cm length was divided into five scale ranges, in which each range was related to a preference score. Various set-up models had been prepared from these concentrations: 0%; 0.5%; 1%; 2%; 4%; 8% of the macerated extract of Sumatran Pine sapwood in 8 mm paper dish. Each set-up consisted of a pair of concentrations: low & high concentration, which was located on different food chambers. The results suggested that termite showed directional preference to a low concentration, even in a set-up model of 0% & 0.5% (F= 16.65, P = 0.002), which indicated that the extracts might have a repellent effect against termite. When the results were clustered based on termite’s movement, clockwise and counterclockwise, significant preference for low concentration was observed in two and one set-up models, respectively. Behavioural observation showed that in most of the set-up models, the first food chamber explored by a termite would generate more preference scores, regardless of the concentrations.