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CO2 release in Groups of Reticulitermes virginicus (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae)

Formally Refereed

Abstract

C02 release rates were measured from groups of 10 Reticulrtermes virginicus Banks workers, soldiers, and nymphs. For workers, VCO2 (μ·mg-1·h-1) 1ncreased linearly w1th temperature between 16.2- 30.4°C. VCO2 recorded at = 20°C was 0.177 ± 0.005 μ·mg-1·h-1 for soldiers and 0.219 ± 0.027 μ·mg-1·h-1 for nymphs. Assuming a similar slope of temperature increase in VCO2 for all castes. predicted mass-corrected CO2 release values for grouped R. virginicus workers, soldiers and nymphs at 23.6°C were 27, 52 and 27% lower than literature values for the same castes of R. flavipes measured individually at that temperature. C02 release rate (μ·mg-1·h-1) for R. virginicus nearly doubled over the 20°C to 30°C temperature range (Q10 = 1.91 ), similar to literature values for Zootermopsis nevadensis (Hagen) over the same range. For all temperatures except 25.2°C, CO2 release rate (in μ·h-1) increased significantly with mass, with coefficients ranging from 0.123 (16.2°C) to 0.599 (30.4°C).

Keywords

respiration, CO2, temperature, termite, Reticulitermes virginicus

Citation

Wagner, Terence L.; Shelton, Thomas G.; Villavaso, Eric J. 2012. CO2 Release in Groups of Reticulitermes virginicus (Isoptera:Rhinotermitidae). J. Entomol. Sci. 47(3):264-271.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/41757