Effect of bait supplements on the feeding and tunneling behavior of the formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

This study examined the effects of water soluble chemicals from an aqueous extract of Summon Preferred Food Source disks and from a sports drink, Gatorade (TM), on the feeding and tunneling behavior of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. Both the Summon extract and Gatorade (TM) significantly increased the rate of tunneling in treated sand. The Summon extract had a stronger effect on the rate of tunneling than Gatorade. In both choice and no-choice tests, there was significantly more feeding on wood blocks in the containers with sand moistened with water than in containers with Gatorade (TM)-treated sand. Summon extract-treated sand had no effect on consumption of wood blocks. In experiments where sand was dyed with solutions of Nile Blue A, termites were more likely to become blue when sand was dyed with a Gatorade (TM)/Nile Blue A solution than when sand was dyed with Nile Blue A dissolved in water or in the Summon extract. These results suggest that termites were ingesting the Gatorade (TM), but not the Summon extract. Termites were less likely to feed on wood blocks when sand was treated with Gatorade (TM), presumably because they were able to obtain some nourishment from the Gatorade (TM). Increasing our understanding of how water soluble chemicals influence the foraging behavior of Formosan subterranean termites will enhance our ability to use attractants and feeding stimulants more effectively to improve the efficacy of commercial bait products.