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Mechanisms of recruitment for the retrieval of food in Amitermes evuncifer Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae: Termitinae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

S. L. Omo Malaka  and
R. H. Leuthold
S. L. Omo Malaka
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, Nigeria
R. H. Leuthold
Affiliation:
Universität Bern, Zoologisches Institute, Abteilung for Zoophysiologie, CH-3012 Bern, Erlachstrasse 9a, Switzerland
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Abstract

The study revealed that there was quantitative recruitment in colonies of Amitermes evuncifer, whenever food was discovered by the scouting foragers. Discovered food stimulated the termites to accelerate their running speed, to and from the food source. Increased trail-laying activity, accelerated movement and carrying of food by the returning workers facilitated recruitment of other confederates from their nest. These activities equally directed the recruited termites to the food source.

Amitermes evuncifer was observed to regulate traffic in relation to newly discovered food source. The results showed that there was rapid communication between the termites of food source within 3–4 min. It was further observed that the trail to newly found food source did not become dominant over the trail to the already existing food source. The results showed clearly the effect of food on vital activities of termites.

Résumé

Cette étude montre qu'il y a un accroissement numérique des colonies d'Amitermes evuncifer chaque fois que les fourrageurs découvrent des sources d'alimentation. De telles sources incitent les termites a forcer la vitésse de déplacements entre le point de départ et les sources d'alimentation. Le dépôt de traces de pheromone les deplacements entre le point de départ et les sources d'alimentation et la transportation des vivres par les ouvriers facilitent le recrutement des confédéres de leur nid. Les mêmes activites servent aussi à diriger les termites nouvellement recrutés vers les sources d'alimentation.

On a pu observer que l'Amitermes evuncifer régit le trafic vers des sources d'alimentation nouvellement découvertes. Les données montrent que les renseignements sur la decouverte des sources d'alimentation sont transmis parti les termites en trois ou quatre minutes environi après la découverte. On a noté également que les traces menant à une source d'alimentation nouvellement découverte n'a aucun avantage sur une source qui préexistat. Les données démontrent clairement les effets qu'ont les vivres sur les activités essentielles des termites.

Keywords

RecruitmentAmitermes evunciferfoodarenatraffictrail
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 7 , Issue 6 , December 1986 , pp. 707 - 721
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1986

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