Unknown Facts About Termite Control Effectiveness

Termites are far less likely to be attacked by parasites than bees, wasps and ants, since they're usually well protected in their own mounds.122 Nevertheless, termites are infected by many different parasites. Some of these include dipteran flies,123 Pyemotes mites, and also a large number of nematode parasites. Most nematode parasites are in the order Rhabditida; others are in the genus Mermis, Diplogaster aerivora and Harteria gallinarum.

M. anispliae is known to weaken the termite immune system. Infection with A. nomius only takes place when a colony is under great stress. .

Termites are infected by viruses including Entomopoxvirinae and the Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus.130131

Since the worker and soldier castes lack wings and so never flyand also the reproductives use their wings for just a brief amount of time, termites predominantly rely upon their legs to move around.

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Foraging behavior depends on the form of termite. By way of example, certain species feed on the timber structures they inhabit, and many others harvest food that is near the nest.132 Most workers are rarely found out in the open, and do not forage unprotected; they rely on sheeting and runways to protect them from predators.

When they find a food sourcethey communicate to other soldiers and a tiny force of workers starts to emerge. In the second stage, workers appear in massive numbers in the site. The third stage is indicated by a drop in the number of soldiers present and an increase in the number of employees.136 Isolated researchers may engage in Lvy flight behavior within an optimised way for finding their nestmates or foraging for food.137.

Competition between two colonies always ends in agonistic behavior towards each other, resulting in fights. These fights can lead to mortality on both sides and, in some situations, the gain or reduction of land.138139"Cemetery pits" may be present, in which the bodies of dead termites are buried.140

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Studies indicate that when termites encounter each other in foraging areas, some of the termites intentionally block passages to prevent other termites from entering.134141 Dead termites from other colonies found in exploratory tunnels leads to the isolation of the area and thus the need to construct new tunnels.142 Conflict between two competitors does not necessarily happen.

Since C. formosanus colonies can get into physical conflict, a few termites squeeze closely into foraging tunnels and die, successfully blocking the tunnel and ending all of agonistic activities.144.

Among the reproductive caste, neotenic queens can compete with each other to become the dominant queen when there are no primary reproductives. This struggle among the queens contributes to the elimination of all but a single queen, which, together with all the king, accepts over the colony.145

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Ants and termites may compete with each other for nesting space. In particular, ants that prey on termites normally have a negative effect on arboreal nesting species.146

Most termites are blind, so communication primarily occurs through chemical, mechanical and pheromonal cues.41134 These means of communication are used in an assortment of activities, including foraging, locating reproductives, construction of nests, recognition of nestmates, nuptial flight, locating and fighting enemies, and defending the nests.41134 The most common method of communicating is via antennation.134 A number of pheromones are known, including contact pheromones (which are transmitted when employees are engaged in trophallaxis or grooming) and alert, path and sex pheromones.

Trail pheromones are secreted in the sternal gland, and sex pheromones derive from 2 glandular sources: the sternal and tergal glands.41 When termites go out to look for meals, they forage in columns along the ground through vegetation. Check Out Your URL A path can be identified from the faecal deposits or runways that are covered by objects.

When termites construct their nests, they use predominantly indirect communication. No single termite would be in charge of any particular construction project. Individual termites react rather than think, but at a set level, they exhibit a sort of collective cognition. Particular structures or other items such as pellets of soil or pillars cause termites to begin building.

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The result is a self-organised procedure where the information that sends termite activity results in changes in the environment rather than from direct contact among individuals.134.

Termites can distinguish nestmates and non-nestmates through chemical communication and gut symbionts: chemicals consisting of hydrocarbons released from the cuticle allow the recognition of alien species.148149 Every colony has its own distinct odour. This odour is Due to genetic and environmental factors like the termites' diet andThe composition of these bacteria within the termites' intestines.150.

Termites rely on alarm communication to defend a colony.134 Alarm pheromones can be released when the nest has been broken or is being assaulted by enemies or potential pathogens. Termites always avoid nestmates infected with Metarhizium anisopliae spores, through vibrational signals released by infected nestmates.151 Other procedures of defence include intense jerking and secretion of fluids in the frontal gland and defecating faeces containing alarm pheromones.134152.