Preference of swarming termites for various colored lights

IRG/WP 1238

M Afzal

The ability of the alates of the drywood termite Bifiditermes beesoni (Gardner) to discriminate ten different colored lights was studied. When an alternative choice of any of two colors was offered, the light-blue was preferred to all other tested colors by 97.7% of the alates. A lower degree of attractivity was found for some other colors and certain other colors were indistinguishable. Furthermore, the effects of light intensity and preconditioning to certain colors have been studied and finally the response of swarming alates from natural colonies is compared to that of the individuals from laboratory colonies.


Keywords: TERMITES; BIFIDITERMES BEESONI; ALATES; COLOUR PREFERENCE; SWARMING ALATES; ATTRACTION TO LIGHT; REDUCED LIGHT INTENSITY

Conference: 84-05-28...06-01 Ronneby Brunn, Sweden


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