THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE-HUMIDITY ON THE SURVIVAL AND WOOD CONSUMPTION OF THE WESTERN DRYWOOD TERMITE, INCISITERMES-MINOR (ISOPTER, KALOTERMITIDAE)

Nymphs of the western drywood termite, Incisitermes minor (Hagen), were kept at 12 different combinations of temperature and relative humidity (RH) for 34 weeks. Survival of the termites was low in all treatments but was greatest at 15.6-degrees-C/75% RH and lowest at 32.2-degrees-C/32% RH. The greatest amount of wood consumed was at 15.60 and 26.7-degrees-C at 75% RH. Wood consumption rates measured as mg wood consumed/termite day and mg wood consumed/g of termites/day were greatest at 26.7-degrees and 32.2-degrees-C and 55 or 75% RH during the first 9 weeks. Feeding rates were lowest at 15.6% and 21.1-degrees-C. Mean weights were greatest for termites kept at 55 or 75% RH and lowest for those kept at 32% RH. Weight loss was greatest for termites kept at 32% RH and at 26.7-degrees or 32.2-degrees-C and least for termites kept at 75% RH. Wood utilization was significantly higher at 32.2-degrees and 26.7-degrees-C and 55 or 75% RH. High mortality and the poor condition of most of the termites within the treatments after week 11 resulted in nonsignificant differences in wood consumption and utilization, and in weight loss; and nonsignificant differences in mean weight after week 17.