Open AccessInterspecific agonistic behaviour of Odontotermes javanicus and Microcerotermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae): Preliminary study
Author(s) -
A Arif,
Mohd Abdul Muin,
G Putri,
N Hasil
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. earth and environmental science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1755-1307
pISSN - 1755-1315
DOI - 10.1088/1755-1315/886/1/012038
Subject(s) - agonistic behaviour , termitidae , interspecific competition , biology , biting , aggression , zoology , ecology , psychology , social psychology
Termite interaction from the same or different colonies or species can display a variety of agonistic behaviours. The study aimed to observe the interspecific agonistic behaviour of Odontotermes javanicus and Microcerotermes sp. For this purpose, an assay was carried out using a test arena separated into two groups. Termite responses were tested against each other in the following pairwise test (worker versus worker, worker versus soldier, and soldier versus soldier) with a 1:1 ratio (ten individuals) from each colony. Specimens were collected at the area of Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin, Indonesia. The observed agonistic behaviour of both species is dominated by examination (antennation) and aggression (attacking, grappling, and biting). There were three treatment combinations that classified as no aggression, except for the treatment ( Microcerotermes sp. soldier versus O. javanicus worker) that classified in aggression level 3 (aggressive). Based on termite survival after five minutes of testing, O. javanicus is more competitive than Microcerotermes sp,; no more individual termites of both species survive after 24 hours of testing.