Observational Notes on Short-Lived and Infrequent Behaviors Displayed by Reticulitermes flavipes (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Behaviors displayed by worker termites, which make up 80Ð90% of any eastern subterranean termite population, provide the foundation for understanding the details of termite social organization. Individually marked termite workers were placed in an enclosed, darkened arena and videotaped for three 24-h periods. Behaviors observed in detail include ecdysial assistance, gallery excavation, oscillatorymovements, worker feeding and adultmating. Primary reproductive pairs were observed tomate, onaverage, onceevery3d.Ecdysis lasted43minand involvedmultiple allogrooming attendants. Excavating termites manipulated the substrate with their mouthparts and showed Þdelity to the site of excavation but not the site of deposition. Four different types of oscillatory movements were characterized with the type IV always ending in defecation. Worker feeding behaviors are described that involve swallowing materials obtained by Þve different routes and evoke use of the superorganism concept. The relevance of these observations for a better understanding of a variety of topics, including biology, management, and evolution of these economic pests, is included.