Caste, colony, and species specificity of the trail pheromone in two sympatric nasutitermitinae (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Using Y-choice bioassays for testing the preference for two artificial trails, made from sternal gland extracts from workers and/ or soldiers, we demonstrate the existence of caste, colony and species specificity of the pheromone trail following response of the sympatric termite species Nasutitermes ephratae and N. corniger. The results suggest that both quantitative and qualitative differences in the trail pheromone are used by the termites to discriminate among conspecific and non-specific trails. The ecological role of trail following specificity is discussed.