Abstract:
Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) of insects play an important role as communication signal and prevent environmental stresses. CHCs vary with environmental conditions. In the present studies, we have determined effect of temperature on CHCs of termites, Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) (Termitidae: Isoptera) and subsequent effect on gallery formation and susceptibility to the pesticide, imidacloprid. The termites’ workers were collected at different times of the year, 2013-2014, from three different sites in Punjab, Pakistan and CHCs were quantified. Variations in contents of CHCs was also studied over a range of temperatures for different time points. Extracted CHCs were used to measure gallery formation. The termites’ workers with low and high CHCs contents were exposed to imidacloprid and percentage mortality in each termite type was noted. Results showed that CHCs of O. obesus peaked at hotter months of the year (May through August) at three places which showed non-significant difference among them. CHCs increased with an increase in temperature and highest CHCs contents were observed at 35ºC. The soils treated with high contents of CHCs were probed longer by termites’ workers and mortality by imidacloprid was low in termites’ workers with high CHCs contents. The control strategy based on these results is suggested in discussion.
Page(s):
271-275
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Journal of Zoology, Volume: 48, Issue: 1, Year: 2016