Evaluation of novel and traditional measures for vigor of laboratory-cultured termites, Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar)

The current study was undertaken to consider predictive methods for describing the vigor of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) termites stored in a laboratory under conditions similar to control groups in bioassay. These novel methods were based on measurements for levels of biological molecules (uric acid, soluble proteins, lipid, and glycogen), percent water content, live weight, and running speed. Also considered were two established, non-predictive methods for determining vigor, survivorship and consumption rate. Of the novel measures tested, lipid and body water percentage show promise in distinguishing weak from vigorous groups of termites, with body water percentage a more practical means of measurement. Low body water percentage was concluded to be an indicator of weak groups of termites.