INTERSPECIFIC RECOGNITION AMONG TERMITES OF THE GENUS RETICULITERMES - EVIDENCE FOR A ROLE FOR THE CUTICULAR HYDROCARBONS

Two species of termites, Reticulitermes (lucifugus) grassei and R. (l.) banyulensis, show a high degree of aggressivity toward each other. The epicuticular signature, recognized by contact, can be extracted using organic solvents, and the removal of the signature abolished all types of aggressive behavior. The signature can be transferred to lures, where it triggers interspecies aggression. It was found to be mainly present in the apolar fraction of the cuticular extracts, which contained only hydrocarbons, are determined by GC/MS techniques. Chemical recognition contributes towards isolation of the two species belonging to the R. lucifugus complex.