Termites Are Considered the Most Dangerous Structural Pests
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PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES OF VIGOR FOR THE EASTERN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE, RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES (KOLLAR) (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) by TIMOTHY JOSEPH ARQUETTE (under the direction of Brian T. Forschler) ABSTRACT Termite populations vary in vigor (Lenz and Williams, 1980). This is a problem in laboratory trials when termites from weak populations decline in vigor or die before a study is completed (Carter and Smythe, 1972a). No method has been established for identifying healthy termites before placement in bioassay arenas. The current study was undertaken to consider predictive methods for describing the vigor of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) termites stored in a laboratory under conditions similar to control groups in bioassay. These novel methods were based on measurements for levels of biomolecules (uric acid, soluble proteins, lipid, and glycogen), percent water content, and running speed. Also considered were two established, non-predictive methods for determining vigor, survivorship and consumption rate, as well as body weight, considered an indicator of declining termite populations. Novel measures of vigor were also applied to termites collected from field populations as a survey of levels under natural conditions. Low body water percentage was concluded to be an indicator of weak groups of termites. INDEX WORDS: vigor, consumption, survivorship, uric acid, soluble protein, glycogen, cellulase, lipid, body water. PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES OF VIGOR FOR THE EASTERN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE, RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES (KOLLAR) (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) by TIMOTHY JOSEPH ARQUETTE B. S., Virginia Commonwealth University, 2001 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree MASTER OF SCIENCE ATHENS, GEORGIA 2005 2005 Timothy Joseph Arquette All Rights Reserved PHYSIOLOGICAL MEASURES OF VIGOR FOR THE EASTERN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE, RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES (KOLLAR) (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) by TIMOTHY JOSEPH ARQUETTE Major Professor: Brian T. Forschler Committee: Donald E. Champagne Mark R. Brown Electronic Version Approved: Maureen Grasso Dean of the Graduate School The University of Georgia May 2005 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my major professor, Dr. Brian Forschler, for giving me the opportunity to work on this project under his direction, and the considerable guidance and encouragement he provided. I also would like to thank the members of my advisory committee, Dr. Mark Brown and Dr. Donald Champagne, for teaching me the fundamental procedures for working in a laboratory, as well as helping with difficult questions regarding the chemical bioassays done for this study. I would like to acknowledge Dr. Glenn Ware, Dr. Catherine Teare-Ketter, and Dr. Darold Batzer for invaluable help with statistics, and Dr. Sabine Grube, Dr. Duane Jackson, Andrew Nuss, and Jennifer Lewis for sharing their ideas and providing technical help. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Richard Mills, retired professor of entomology and biochemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University, for sharing his knowledge of biology and chemistry, and encouraging me to pursue a Master’s degree in entomology. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................... iv LIST OF TABLES........................................................................................................................ vii LIST OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................................x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................1 Consumption Rate....................................................................................................4 Survivorship.............................................................................................................5 Uric Acid..................................................................................................................7 Soluble Proteins .....................................................................................................10 Lipid.......................................................................................................................13 Glycogen................................................................................................................15 Cellulases ...............................................................................................................17 Body Water ............................................................................................................19 Trail Following Chemicals ....................................................................................22 Conclusion .............................................................................................................23 2 NOVEL AND TRADITIONAL MEASURES OF VIGOR APPLIED TO LABORATORY TERMITES, RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES (KOLLAR).............................................................................................................25 Abstract..................................................................................................................26 v Introduction............................................................................................................27 Materials and Methods...........................................................................................28 Results....................................................................................................................36 Discussion..............................................................................................................42 3 NOVEL MEASURES OF VIGOR APPLIED TO FRESHLY COLLECTED AND LABORATORY-CULTURED TERMITES, RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES (KOLLAR)...................................69 Abstract..................................................................................................................70 Introduction............................................................................................................71 Materials and Methods...........................................................................................71 Results....................................................................................................................76 Discussion..............................................................................................................78 4 CONCLUSIONS....................................................................................................88 REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................92 vi LIST OF TABLES Page Table 2.1a: Mean cellulose consumption rate (µg cellulose eaten/g termite/day) for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date......49 Table 2.1b: Percent change in consumption rate from week 0 for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date.....................................49 Table 2.2: Mean survivorship ratio for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................50 Table 2.3a: Mean live weight for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................51 Table 2.3b: Percent change in live weight from week 0 for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date.....................................51 Table 2.4a: Mean µg uric acid/mg termite for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................52 Table 2.4b: Percent change in uric acid from week 0 for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date.....................................52 Table 2.5a: Mean µg soluble protein/mg termite for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................53 Table 2.5b: Percent change in soluble protein from week 0 for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date.....................................53 vii Table 2.6a: Mean µg glycogen/mg termite for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................54 Table 2.6b: Percent change in glycogen from week 0 for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date.....................................54 Table 2.7a: Mean µg lipid/mg termite for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................55 Table 2.7b: Percent change in lipid from week 0 for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date.....................................55 Table 2.8a: Mean percent body water/termite for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................56 Table 2.8b: Percent change in body water/termite from week 0 for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date.....................................56 Table 2.9a: Mean running speed (seconds) for three groups of laboratory-cultured R. flavipes workers by sampling date, ± the standard deviation............................57 Table 2.9b: Percent