Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Field Evaluations of Subterranean Termite Preference for Sap-Stain Inoculated Wood

  • Published:
Journal of Insect Behavior Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Few studies have focused on interactions between subterranean termites and the ophiostomatoid fungal associates of pine bark beetles or root feeding weevils. Field stake tests were employed at four locations throughout Mississippi to determine the feeding preference of subterranean termites for blue-stained, unstained, and partially decayed southern pine sapwood stakes. This study also utilized wood decayed by Gloeophyllum trabeum, a fungus previously shown to elicit a positive subterranean termite feeding response, as a positive control. Stakes inoculated with G. trabeum received significantly more attacks than all other treatments after 16 weeks. Of the stakes attacked by subterranean termites, stakes inoculated with Ophiostoma minus were degraded faster than any other treatment. Subterranean termite preference for stakes treated with either of two Leptographium spp. and the untreated negative controls did not differ; however, each was fed upon less than all other treatments. The feeding rate on stakes inoculated with O. ips and G. trabeum being fed upon by subterranean termites was not significantly different. These results represent the first evidence of wood containing non-structurally degrading fungi (O. ips and O. minus) eliciting a feeding preference from subterranean termites greater than that of decayed wood. The implications of these results are particularly relevant to pine forest ecology, nutrient cycling, subterranean termite control, and the utilization of blue-stained southern pine building products in the southeastern U.S.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abraham LD, Breuil C (1996) Isolation and characterization of subtilisin-like serine proteinase secreted by the sap-staining fungus Ophiostoma piceae. Enzyme Microb Technol 18:133–140

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abraham LD, Roth A, Saddler JN, Brueil C (1993) Growth, nutrition, and proteolytic activity of the sap-staining fungus Ophiostoma piceae. Can J Bot 71:1224–1230

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Abraham LD, Hoffman B, Gao Y, Breuil C (1998) Action of Ophiostoma piceae on proteinase and lipase on wood nutrients. Can J Microbiol 44:698–701

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amburgey TL (1979) Review and checklist of the literature on interactions between wood-inhabiting fungi and subterranean termites: 1960–1978. Sociobiology 4:279–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amburgey TL, Beal RH (1977) White rot inhibits termite attack. Sociobiology 3:35–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Amburgey TL, Smythe RV (1977) Factors influencing termite feeding on brown-rotted wood. Sociobiology 3:3–12

    Google Scholar 

  • (AWPA) American Wood Protection Association (2009) AWPA book of standards. AWPA, Birmingham

  • Ballard RG, Walsh MA, Cole WE (1983) The penetration and growth of blue-stain fungi in the sapwood of lodgepole pine attacked by mountain pine beetle. Can J Microbiol 62:1724–1729

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker G (1976) Termites and fungi. Mater Org 3:465–478

    Google Scholar 

  • Breuil C, Huang J (1994) Activities and properties of extracellular proteinases produced by staining fungi grown in protein-supplemented liquid media. Enzyme Microb Technol 16:602–607

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Breuil C, Yagodnik C, Abraham L (1995) Staining fungi grown in softwood produce proteinases and aminopeptidases. Mater Org 29:15–25

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brush TS, Farrell RL, Ho C (1994) Biodegradation of wood extractives from southern yellow pine by Ophiostoma piliferum. Tappi J 77:155–159

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornelius ML, Daigle DJ, Connick WJ Jr, Parker A, Wunch K (2002) Responses of Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) to three types of wood rot fungi cultured on different substrates. J Econ Entomol 95:121–128

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drooze AT (1985) Insects of eastern forests. Misc. Publ. 1426, Department of Agriculture, Washington DC

  • Esenther GR, Beal RH (1979) Termite control: decayed wood bait. Sociobiology 4:215–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Esenther GR, Allen TC, Casida JE, Shenefelt RD (1961) Termite attractant from fungus-infected wood. Science 134:50

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao D-R (1985) Use of attractants in bait toxicants for the control of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki in China. In: Tamashiro M, Su N-Y (eds) Biology and control of the Formosan subterranean termite. Research Extension Series 083. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, pp 53–57

  • Gao Y, Breuil C (1995) Extracellular lipase production by a sapwood-staining fungus, Ophiostoma piceae. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 11:638–642

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Breuil C (1998) Properties and substrate specificities of an extracellular lipase purified from Ophiostome piceae. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 14:421–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardes M, Bruns TD (1993) ITS primers with enhanced specificity to basidiomycetes—applications to the identification of mycorrihizae and rusts. Mol Ecol 2:113–118

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goheen DJ (1976) Verticiladiella wageneri on Pinus ponderosa: epidemiology and interrelationships with insects. Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Berkeley

  • Grace JK, Wilcox WW (1988) Isolation and trail-following bioassay of a decay fungus associated with Reticulitermes hesperus Banks (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Pan-Pac Entomol 64:243–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrington TC, Cobb FW Jr (1988) Leptographium root diseases of conifers. APS Press, St. Paul

    Google Scholar 

  • Hendee EC (1934) The association of termites and fungi. In: Kofoid CA (ed) Termite and termite control, 2nd edn. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 105–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirker GT, Wagner TL, Diehl SV (2012) Relationship between wood-inhabiting fungi and Reticulitermes spp. in four forest habitats of northeast Mississippi. Int Biodeter Biodegr 72:18–25

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenz M, Ruyooka DBA, Howick CD (1980) The effect of brown and white rot fungi on wood consumption and survival of Coptotermes lacteus (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in a laboratory setting. J Appl Entomol 89:344–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenz M, Amburgey TL, Zi-Rong D, Mauldin JK, Preston AF, Rudolph D, Williams ER (1991) Interlaboratory studies on termite-wood decay fungi associations: II. Response of termites to Gloeophyllum trabeum grown on different species of wood (Isoptera: Mastotermitidae, Termopsidae, Rhinotermitidae, Termitidae). Sociobiology 18:203–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Little NS, Riggins JJ, Schultz TP, Londo AJ, Ulyshen MD (2012a) 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

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Little NS, Blount NA, Londo AJ, Kitchens SC, Schultz TP, McConnell TE, Riggins JJ (2012b) Preference of Formosan Subterranean Termites for Blue-Stained Southern Yellow Pine Sapwood. J Econ Entomol 105:1640–1644

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsumura F, Coppel HC, Tai A (1968) Isolation and identification of termite trail-following pheromone. Nature 219:963–964

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumura F, Tai A, Coppel HC (1969) Termite trail-following substance, isolation and purification from Reticulitermes virginicus and fungus-infected wood. J Econ Entomol 62:599–603

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsumura F, Nishimoto K, Ikeda T, Coppel HC (1976) Influence of carbon sources on the production of the termite trail-following substance by Gloeophyllum trabeum. J Chem Ecol 2:299–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matsuo H, Nishimoto K (1974) Response of the termite Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) to extract fractions from fungus-infected wood and fungus mycelium. Mater Org 9:225–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohmura W, Tokoro M, Tsunoda K, Yoshimura T, Takahashi M (1995) Termite trail-following substances produced by brown-rot fungi. Mater Org 29:133–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Paine TD, Birch MC, Švihra P (1981) Niche breadth and resource portioning by four sympatric species of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Oecologia 48:1–6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paine TD, Raffa KF, Harrington TC (1997) Interactions among scolytid bark beetles, their associated fungi, and live host conifers. Annu Rev Entomol 42:179–206

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Payne TL (1980) Life history and habits. In: Thatcher RC, Searcy JL, Coster JE, Hertel GD (eds) The Southern Pine Beetle, Tech. Bull. 1631, Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Expanded Southern Pine Beetle Research and Applications Program, Washington, DC, pp 7–28

  • Rane KK, Tattar TA (1987) Pathogenicity of blue-stain fungi associated with Dendroctonus terebrans. Plant Dis 71:879–883

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rumbold CT (1931) Two blue-staining fungi associated with bark beetle infestation of pines. J Agric Res 43:847–873

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust MK, Haagsma K, Nyugen J (1996) Enhancing foraging of western subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) in arid environments. Sociobiology 28:275–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Sands WA (1969) The association of termites and fungi. In: Krishna K, Weesner FM (eds) Biology of termites, vol 1. Academic, New York, pp 495–524

    Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (2009) Version 9.2. SAS Institute, Cary

  • Schirp A, Farrell RL, Kreber B, Singh AP (2003) Advances in understanding the ability of sapstaining fungi to produce cell wall-degrading enzymes. Wood Fiber Sci 35:434–444

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smythe RV, Coppel HC, Lipton SH, Strong FM (1967) Chemical studies of attractants associated with Reticulitermes flavipes and R. virginicus. J Econ Entomol 60:228–233

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tisdale RA, Nebeker TE, Hodges JD (2003) The role of oleoresin flow in the induced response of loblolly pine to a southern pine beetle associated fungus. Can J Bot 81:368–374

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Valiev A, Ogel ZB, Klepzig KD (2009) Analysis of cellulose and polyphenol oxidase production by southern pine beetle associated fungi. Symbiosis 49:37–42

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagerner WW, Mielke JL (1961) A staining fungus root disease of ponderosa, Jeffrey, and pinyon pines. Pland Dis Rep 45:831–835

    Google Scholar 

  • Waller DA, La Fage JP, Gilbertson RL, Blackwell M (1987) Wood-decay fungi associated with subterranean termites (Rhinotermitidae) in Louisiana. In Proceedings, 89th Conference of the Entomological Society of Washington, pp 417–424

  • Whitney HS (1971) Association of Dendroctonus ponderosae (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) with blue-stain fungi and yeasts during brood development in lodgepole pine. Can Entomol 103:1495–1503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood DL (1982) The role of pheromones, kairomones, and allomones in the host selection and colonization behavior of bark beetles. Annu Rev Entomol 27:411–446

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zoberi MH, Grace KG (1990) Fungi associated with the subterranean termite Reticulitermes flavipes in Ontario. Mycologia 82:289–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection and Southern Research Station, the Mississippi Forestry Commission, the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, and the Mississippi Forest and Wildlife Research Center. The authors would like to thank Southeastern Timber Products of Ackerman, MS, for donating the lumber for this project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology & Plant Pathology, Mississippi State University, 100 Twelve Lane, Box 9775, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Nathan S. Little, Fred R. Musser & John J. Riggins

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

    Tor P. Schultz, Susan V. Diehl & Darrel D. Nicholas

  3. Department of Forestry, Mississippi State University, Box 9681, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Andrew J. Londo

Authors
  1. Nathan S. Little
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tor P. Schultz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Susan V. Diehl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Darrel D. Nicholas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Andrew J. Londo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fred R. Musser
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. John J. Riggins
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nathan S. Little.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Little, N.S., Schultz, T.P., Diehl, S.V. et al. Field Evaluations of Subterranean Termite Preference for Sap-Stain Inoculated Wood. J Insect Behav 26, 649–659 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9380-x

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-013-9380-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation