Effects of resource availability on search tunnel construction by the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

The effect of food availability on tunnel construction was assessed in the laboratory during a 15-day period for three colonies of Reticulitermes flavipes. Termites were introduced into arenas with food continually present, food continually absent, or food removed at day 8. Number and length of primary, secondary and tertiary tunnels were measured daily. Significant variability was observed among the three colonies in terms of the number of tunnels constructed. Although nonsignificant, secondary tunnels were the most numerous, followed by primary and tertiary tunnels. Treatments had no measurable effect on the numbers of tunnels and on primary tunnel length. However, termites without food tended to build longer secondary tunnels than termites with food (P ≤0.05). The most consistent response was that termites lengthened tertiary tunnels after food removal (P <0.05). Tertiary tunnels may have been the optimal foraging route due to the limited size of the foraging arena.