Shelter tube geometry of the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae), in response to a food source

Subterranean termites forage via both underground tunnels and aboveground shelter tubes. While both provide protection from predation and moisture loss while searching for food, little is known about how termites construct shelter tubes to locate food above ground. This study examined differences in the geometry of shelter tubes in response to varying placement and the number of food sources (0, 2 and 4) in the Asian subterranean termite, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann). We hypothesized that differing number of wood blocks and placements would affect the geometry of shelter tubes because termites may be able to reach food in the open before constructing pathway, unlike tunneling behavior underground. However, we found no significant differences in termites’ ability to find food regardless the number of wood blocks presented. Moreover, there was no difference in shelter tube geometry parameters such as overall length of shelter tubes, average angle of the first ten branches within the tubes, or the branching frequency. These findings suggest that the presence of a food source does not influence the construction pattern of shelter tubes. Given the previous study, the construction of shelter tubes and tunnels showed similarities in that the presence of food sources did not affect termite foraging behavior.