Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de Ingeniero Agrónomo Mención: Sanidad Vegetal

This dissertation defines electromagnetic properties that are responsible for directing subterranean termite foraging behavior. Research identified specific frequencies and intensities that can attract Coptotermes formosanus Shiraiki and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) to the site where the electrical fields are generated and defined on repellant freuency and intensity for C. formosanus. US Patent Docket Number 2343-215 PCT and MSU disclosure 05-0606-163 were filed based on the results. Data showed that frequencies and intensities were different for attracting the two species. Future work will address new alternatives for addressing termite infestations that will reduce and change the amounts and use of current termiticides.

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Master of Science / Department of Entomology / Srinivas Kambhampati / Termites (Isoptera) are eusocial insects and exhibit highly complex eusocial behavior. Eusociality is characterized by the presence of castes (workers, soldiers, reproductives), polyphenisms (same genotype exhibiting multiple phenotypes), flexible developmental pathways, complex communication, cooperative brood care, construction and maintenance of complex nests, and division of labor. Previous studies on honey bees implicated several genes in caste-specific behavior; here, we investigate if orthologs of such genes are present in termites and if so, whether they are expressed differentially among the castes. A candidate gene approach using degenerate primers was used to amplify three candidate genes in the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. Quantitative real time PCR analysis revealed differential expression among termite workers, soldiers, and alates, with a general pattern of higher expression in alates. These results provide information on three novel genes in the termite R. flavipes.