Influence of diet on the survival and wood consumption of Porotermes adamsoni (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Termopsidae) at different temperatures

Survival and wood consumption were measured for laboratory groups of Porotermes adamsoni (Frogg.) maintained over a range of constant temperatures from 8 to 29°C. The termites were fed on sound blocks of Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus regnans, decayed E. ?viminalis, and outer (sound) and inner (decayed) heartwood of E. pauciflora. Above 21 °C, diet influenced the pattern of survival, wood consumption and wood consumption adjusted for survival, resulting in a significant temperature × timber interaction. In the upper range of the temperatures used, the termites survived in larger numbers or for longer periods on decayed than on sound wood and ate more of it. From the results, it is clear that difficulties arise when employing laboratory data to estimate feeding activity of termite populations in the field. Knowledge of the correlation between the performance of termites in laboratory groups with that of members of a field colony is still sparse.