Temperature effect on kinetics of uptake, transfer, and clearance of [14C]noviflumuron in eastern subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

[C-14] Noviflumuron uptake, clearance, rate of excretion, and transfer from treated to untreated termite workers were evaluated at 15,19,23, and 27 degrees C. Feeding units were constructed from plastic containers provisioned with washed sand, distilled water, [C-14] noviflumuron-treated feeding discs (0.05 or 0.5% [AI]), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) workers. Feeding units were held in environmental growth chambers preset at 15, 19, 23, and 27 degrees C. The amount of [C-14]noviflumuron present within R.flavipes was measured by scintillation counting and subsequently quantified. Uptake of noviflumuron by R.flavipes workers at 15 degrees C was approximate to 2.8 times less than at 19 or 23 degrees C and approximate to 4.4 times less than at 27 degrees C. The highest uptake of [C-14] noviflumuron occurred at 27 degrees C and 144 h. Most transfer of [C-14] noviflumuron from treated to untreated termite workers occurred between 19 and 27 degrees C. [C-14] Noviflumuron had a half-life in R. flavipes workers of approximate to 31-45 d, dependent on temperature. A higher amount of [C-14] noviflumuron was lost through excretion at >= 19 degrees C (approximate to 15-22%) compared with 15 degrees C (0.27%). Results indicated that increased uptake, transfer, and clearance of noviflumuron by R. flavipes occurred at warmer temperatures (19-27 degrees C), and all of these processes were significantly lower at 15 degrees C.