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Feeding Preference of Native Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae: Reticulitermes) for Wood Containing Bark Beetle Pheromones and Blue-Stain Fungi

Journal of Insect Behavior volume 25, pages 197–206 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Surprisingly little research has been conducted to investigate interactions between subterranean termites and bark beetles. Facilitative interactions between these organisms could easily alter stand dynamics and impact wood utilization strategies. A series of American Wood Protection Association Standard E1-09 “choice tests” were carried out to determine the feeding preference of Reticulitermes flavipes Kollar (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) for blue-stained sapwood and sapwood impregnated with various bark beetle pheromones. Reticulitermes flavipes exhibited a feeding preference for both air-dried and kiln-dried blue-stained sapwood, unstained sapwood treated with frontalin, and air-dried blue-stained sapwood treated with a 0.02% solution of both frontalin and endo-brevicomin. The implications of these results are far reaching, with particular relevance to forest health, ecology, and utilization.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection and Southern Research Station, and the Mississippi Forestry Commission. The authors would like to thank Southeastern Timber Products of Ackerman, MS, for donating the lumber for this project. This manuscript was approved for publication as journal article No. J-11958 of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Mississippi State University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, Box 9775, Starkville, MS, 39762, USA

    Nathan S. Little & John J. Riggins

  2. Department of Forest Products, Mississippi State University, Box 9820, Starkville, MS, 39762, USA

    Tor P. Schultz

  3. Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University, Box 968, Starkville, MS, 39762, USA

    Andrew J. Londo

  4. USDA-Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 201 Lincoln Green, Starkville, MS, 39759, USA

    Michael D. Ulyshen

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  1. Nathan S. Little
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  2. John J. Riggins
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  4. Andrew J. Londo
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  5. Michael D. Ulyshen
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Correspondence to Nathan S. Little.

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Little, N.S., Riggins, J.J., Schultz, T.P. et al. Feeding Preference of Native Subterranean Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae: Reticulitermes) for Wood Containing Bark Beetle Pheromones and Blue-Stain Fungi. J Insect Behav 25, 197–206 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-011-9293-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-011-9293-5

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