Food preferences in laboratory colonies of the harvester termite, Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjostedt) (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae).

摘要

The harvester termite, Trinervitermes trinervoides preferred grass litter to all the other plant material offered in laboratory choice trials. The following factors were examined as possible determinants of food preference, namely position, thickness, hardness, chemical composition and nitrogen enrichment. None of the factors examined could be singled out statistically as the major determinant for food selection. Physical properties such as hardness and thickness of food had some influence but the chemical constituents of the food seemed to be less important..