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Termites - Science topic

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I saw the termite attack on my cannabis farm. The termites had hollowed out the stems of mature plants. Without any apparent symptoms. I was able to control it by adding poison to the irrigation water. Does anyone have a similar experience in this regard? Termites are not reported as a common pest of cannabis. How can I report this?
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I am currently facing the same problem. Both termites and ants are social insects that live in highly organized colonies. In this context, the death of the queen means the death of the colony. Therefore, the only viable solution is to locate and identify the termite mounds, and apply a biological agent to infect the colony or, alternatively, use a specialized chemical. In my case, we opted for the targeted use of pyrethrin at low concentrations, as we work in organic farming and apply the treatment outside the cultivation area.
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I've tried various products currently on the market designed for honeybee mites, but none of them have worked.
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You might try predatory mites that attack other mites, as used in antkeeping
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I am working on termites and doing in situ hybridization but at the end, I can't see cells in specimen slides. my question is how to maintain the structural integrity during fixation or whole process can influence cell structure. I think fixation is the main part of hybridization. I am using 4% paraformaldehyde at 4degree to fix termite for 3-4 hours then gradient dehydration with ethanol. if any suggestions it would be highly appreciated.
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for any colleague reading your request it would be fine, really informative and therefore also important for a decision, how one can help with regard to your problems if you would add at least 'little' additional information about your performing in-situ-hybridization and adding - perhaps and if available - (an) image(s) of the final appearance on slides...
Further (always informative and sometimes recommended) readings (out of many more);
ZHU et al, 2021: Effects of fixation on bacterial cellular dimensions and integrity [iScience. 2021 Apr 23; 24(4): 102348] cf. also:
(=https__://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066382/ NB: prior to 'execution' - when copying that URL into your browser - delete the two undersigns__ in between http and ://www....) or directly on NIH-NCBI-PubMed-website (4,6 MB) :
https__://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8066382/pdf/main.pdf
(NB as before);
Biotechne(R)
What is the Significance of Fixation: cf.
ETHOS BioSciences:
Choosing the Right Fixative
Steps to Better ISH and more... by Geoffrey Rolls, BAppSc, FAIMS, cf.:
Best wishes and regards, W.H.M.
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My study area is in eastern Himalayan foothill landscape which is a tropical to sub-tropical forest; elevation ranges from 150 to 1300 meter. The forest is some parts dominated by sal, tick and bamboo plants. The area is not plan at all that's why line transect can't be possible whereas the area having ample of epigeic termite mounds, intermediate mounds, subterranean mounds.
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I would simply find examples of perhaps 30 mounds of each type and sample them :)
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I want to prepare a termite sample for SEM observation and i know it is dehydrated with a graded series of ethanol. but my sample has already been fixed in 75% ethanol for more than one month. So how to treat these samples to prepare for Scanning electron microscope? kindly suggest.
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Vladimir Dusevich stop using chatbot to genrate your answers and then lecturing/blaming others for plagiarizing.
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Understandable that empirical data is biased towards bees, ants, and termites but I keep seeing these species in general theoretical papers as well while no mention about thrips or aphids despite a couple of decades having passed after their discovery as social insects?
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I was going to chime in with what Shashidhar already said: because they don't meet the definition of social insects. There are other works on them and their social behaviors, but they aren't truely eusocial because there aren't reproductive castes, division of labor, etc.
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Hi, would you please tell me which genus termite shown in these pictures?
these picture were taken in the border between Burmese and China.
Thank you very much.
Jianguo, Wang
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Nasutitermes- Genus
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What could be the correlation of high rates of meiotic recombination (that has been observed in many eusocial Hymenoptera species) to kin selection in eusocial insect species? Preferably looking for some explanation that might be applicable on both - haplodiploid hymenopterans (bees, ants, wasps) and diplodiploid isopterans (termites).
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Hello Prashant; The suggested relationship you point out is a new thought for me. Lovely!
The more recombination, the more allele combinations that are shared by siblings. Since you are thinking about kin selection, those allele combinations that provide a selective advantage would amplify kin selection for those traits. Since both males and females share those allele combinations, I think that both Isopterans and hemipterans would respond similarly to those pressures. Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers
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It is known that bees and some other eusocial hymenopterans have elevated rates of recombination. What evolutionary reasons could be there to select these higher rates of recombination in eusocial insects (and not in other organisms)? Also, is there any explanation that would apply to both - haplodiploid (bees, wasps) and diplodiploid (termites) - there are no reports but if we assume termites, being eusocial insects, have high rates of recombination as well?
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Hi Prashant Waiker , very cool question ! I am microbiologist and not entomologist (nobody's perfect), but I always get interested in ants.
For what my opinion values, I would guess that high recombination rate increases genetic diversity among the hive, "compensating" in a way the reduced genetic pool from where it comes (few male genitors and fewer queens). Obviously, genetic diversity increases resilience, adaptability and avoids brutal on/off reaction at the super-organism level.
To go further I think such mechanism happens in neurons, with transposons, in order to increase genetic diversity, and response diversity, so adaptability at the level of the brain ;)
Sincerly.
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Hello,
I am trying to purify intact nuclei from termite cells (Cryptotermes secundus to be precise) without any success. My procedure involved dissociation of the tissues using papain followed by lysis of the cells to release the nuclei. After nuclei release, I stain the nuclei using DAPI/tryptophan blue. Using either of the two dyes, the nuclei are not visible under a phase-contrast microscope which convinces me that the extraction was not successful.
Has anyone ever been successful in isolating intact nuclei from fixed termite cells? I would also appreciate it if you could share termites, honeybee, or ants cells/nuclei stained with DAPI or tryptophan blue.
The end goal is to use the nuclei for ChIP-seq analysis in a technique that requires me to isolate intact nuclei and fragment the DNA before lysing the nuclear membrane to release the nuclei (not the traditional sonication method).
Thank you,
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Mahyar Radak Thank you for your response. However, the technique I was using has been used previously in mammalian cells (I guess they are a bit larger).
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We interested in naturally termite resistant timber and their phytochemical characteristics.
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Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is another timber
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Dear All
Have any effective management practice or application for controlling termite in chickpea where no irrigation facilities (rainfed crop). Please suggest which are effective and feasible for farmers
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If Problems coming in standing crop which are totally rainfed then? @Kouadri Mohamed EI sir
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I want to farm the flying termites to mitigate food insecurity and malnutrition in Kenya
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I have developed incipient termite colonies in the laboratory from the dealates of Odontotermes sp, Macrotermes sp, Microcerotermes sp. I can be possible but time taking and need particular climatic condition such as humidity, temperature and moisture.
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Novaluron is a chitin synthesis inhibitor used in termite control. I want to understand the time taken for the bait be effective to kill a termite.
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Hi Dr Mrunmayee Kakad . I think it will kill a subterranean termite colony within about 90 days or so. Termite baiting systems are best used to monitor termite activity prior to having an infestation in your home, but they still may be used as part of a plan to eradicate an infestation as well. See the link:https://www.domyown.com/can-trelona-compressed-termite-bait-kill-colony-qa-47495.html
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One of the properties of complex adaptive systems is inherent order. It means that system can be orderly even without central control. According to Prigogine,1967, Holland,1998, and Kaufman,1995., self-organization is the key idea in complexity science. For example, termites build the largest structures on earth, yet there is no CEO termite. Similarly, there is no central controller for the stock market, the Internet, or the food supply of the big cities. However, anyway, I wonder myself, is there central controller for stock market, the Internet, or the food supply of big cities? What do you think?
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Thank you for sharing these items.
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I am extracting DNA of 3 years old termite specimen for bar coding through chelex extraction but facing low quality of DNA (most probably because of long storage or improper transportation)? Is there any one faced the same issue and how it was tackled? or any one having similar experience. Any help regarding this would be much appreciated.
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the duration doesn't affect, the fixatives affect the quality. Usually, specimens fixed with formalin or ethanol doesn't yield good quality DNA.
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Many plant  have termite infection in BHU Campus and fall down by wind current. 
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To control termite infection in trees use chloropyriphos organophosphorus pesticide or ,Carbamare pesticides like Primicarb & aldicarbob as the chemical control. In other method use Metarhizium anisopliae microbe as a eco-friendly biological control.
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Termites are the whites ants which eat the wood and residual of the living organism
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Dear Shah Fahad,
Hi,
Termites can have many benefits. Can I make your point clearer?
Best,
Saeed
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I am working on the evaluation of the efficiency of a biopesticide against cocoa belowground pests such as termites in semi-controlled laboratory conditions. This biopesticide needs to be burried near the cultivated crop and the number of insects attacking the root system of each stand is measured after some period of time. Therefore three parameters of the biopesticide application (distance to the crop, burial depth, number of pellets of the product) to were recorded in view to assess the best combination of application with 03 values per parameter (low, medium and high). The experiments were repeated several times.
We have already collected some data but we don't really know which statistical test or procedure will permit us to decide which is the best combination of distance x depth x pellets.
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First check the best chemical
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I am familiar with a few species such as: grasshoppers, caterpillar and termites from central Africa and these are resources becoming available during a certain season of the year. How about growing insects as if they were livestock? What species are most adaptable and easy to grow?
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we have problem in our field experiment of safed musali (Chlorophytum borivilianum ) cultivation. there is attack of termite in the soil which damage the roots in plant. we approached for organic cultivation thats why we need organic method to destroy the termites in land. and want to know is there microorganism which can help us to destroy these termites.
please guide us with reference.
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You Can Visit the the IPM US site a new synthesized compound are available to solve your problem.
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Microcerotermes is a genus of termites with importance as a pest of structural wood in buildings.
This group has become a serious pest in forest environments causing death on young and old Eucalyptus trees.
Commercially available baits did not been effective on attraction and control of such termites.
May we have a discussion on this topic?
Thank you
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Hi,
Termites are small or medium size and live socially Because termites evolved. Specially, Microcerotermes genus including: M. biroi (Desneux), M. papuanus Holmgren, M. repugnans Hill, M piliceps, M. umbritarsus, M. froggatti, M. biroi, M. piliceps and Etc.
And Control
Cellulose baits along with insect growth regulators can be used for termite control, also controling insect growth regulators for soldiers and cause morphological abnormalities (intercastes), changing of cellulose digesting microbes for example flufenoxuron.
i attached many article for u:
Good Luck
The Best Regards
Samaneh Mahmouvand
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Hello, I've isolated a bacteria from termite gut. After 16S ribosomal DNA sequence it was identified as Streptomyces sp. my strain was having cellobiohydrolase activity but i don't have it's genomic DNA sequence. How can i find the corresponding gene for this cellobiohydrolase activity?
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To get the upstream and downstream regions of your fragment you can use a technique called inverse PCR. This involves digesting the chromosomal DNA then self-ligating the pieces so that they form circles. Then use the complements of the sequences that you would have used to amplify the DNA fragment to amplify the DNA in the other direction (i.e. upstream and downstream). This technique works. You can see an example of how we used it in the following reference: Microb Ecol 57: 423-436 (2009).
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i want to know about morphological description about termites. Need suggestions?
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Hi, Abuzar Ahmad
see this links:
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Blind, these social insects build ingenious large constructions (with air conditioning and regulated temperature). Some scientists claim that the sole gradient of pheromone enable the realization of such constructions (stigmergy).
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Dr. Nan-Yao Su at the University of Florida and his students found that a fractal algorithm could be calculated to explain the apparent random tunneling pattern in Coptotermes subterranean termites. I encourage you to look up his papers. It may be that a set of relatively simple behavioral rules might explain general construction patterns that are then modified by environmental ques.
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I need to get learning about insects particularly about “termites' Identification key and scientific categorization” for morphological identification. I am confronting troubles in finding precise ID key of termites and their definite ordered arrangement up to species level?
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Also look at the following link, it may help you:
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I carried out a research on termite pest community of cocoa in different shade managed systems in order to assess effect of shade on community interactions. I Would like to quantify the intensity of competitive interactions using specific abundance of termite species but I am struggling to find out an index especially fitted for this circumstance. I thought about dominance / equitability indexes (Simpson, Pielou etc.), but they are not strong enough to characterize this type of interaction.
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Thanks Jean-Jacques for these insights.
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I'm currently doing a study involving termites and all the termites I acquire doesn't seem to live long after bringing them back to lab. I needed to test the durability of my product (CLT) against termite attack. The common species existing in my area is macrotermes.
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As an alternative, you can consider to test CLT in the field with Macrotermes or in the lab with an alternative species like Coptotermes gestroi which should be easier to keep and probably more relevant in wood protection in buildings.
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symbiotic relation of bacteria and termite cellulose digestion
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Hi there! What do exactly want to know about it? As said before, the symbiotic relation between bacteria and termites is species-specific and implies several diferente roles. It is a world on itself, and picking up articles to suggest to you will very much depend on what you are looking for. If you want further help, you need to be more specific.
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because i need it for my thesis proposal.
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thankyou Mr. Ajit kumar Roy. if you dont mind can i ask again if you have a research article there,
with a dichotomous key on how to characterize the nest of the termites? because the article that you have sent to me is until objectives only. i need the methods and materials for me to easily characterize my study. thankyou so much!
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What do we feed the termites (soil feeding) with to produce more methane gas?
What type of environment can we create for the termites to enable them produce more?
How do we capture the gas produced by termite?
What is the quantity of methane gas that can be produced per termite/day?
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Termites tunnels were found at a house, coming from the walls, when I went out to the garden where I looked for an evidence of the colony . Dead tree was found and was heavily infested with subterranean termites .
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I think its Microcerotermes championi (Snyder)
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Is there any quantification of how much enriched soil is produced by termite? and is it good as fertilizer?
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We can pick up real difference in different soil properties with termite affected and termite free bulk soils. Anyone has any idea about difference in soil biological properties..???
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Hi, I am confused with using standard for my compound profile analysis. Im currently analysing termites defense fluid and focusing on fatty acid methyl ester and I have no data and previous study to confirm the defense fluid profiling for the species. I want to use standard from sigma-aldrich fatty acid methyl ester unsaturated for tlc and glc but im afraid that the defense fluid extract may contain saturated fatty acid. Is it ok to choose the standard? Im afraid that when im comparing my result and the standard peak will be different. Thank you.
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Normally when you do FAMEs by GC it is use FID detector. If you have the chance of using GC/MS normally it is use one methyl fatty acid deuterated (D3) as internal standard.
If you are using GC-FID I use heptadecanoic methyl ester, but first you have to see that it is not present in your matrix.
In TLC it is use one DIPA, you have to see which fit best for your sample. Disopropylamide of one specific fatty acid.
best
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In western Ethiopia, strong soil acidity coupled with termite infestation is one of the overwhelming challenges to crop production. With pH less than 5, in some cases, the soils have been found to contain exchangeable acidity greater than 6 meq/100 g soil, specifically saturated with exchangeable aluminum. Besides, termite infestation is becoming another headache to crop producers sometimes leading to total crop failure. When crops reach at vegetative stage, the termite often clear cuts the roots of crops in the soil; leading to overall wilting and dying of the whole crop biomass in the field. Application of amendments (e.g. lime) in acid soil amelioration is not sustainable and also it is nothing to do with problem of termites. Use of chemicals in termite control was environmentally counterproductive and not sustainable. Recently, use of biochar in soil management is becoming an interesting research topic. Many research papers were published on the potential of biochar as organic source of fertilizer and soil acidity mgt. Biochar is also a promising alternative to enhance soil health by building carbon. However, I got little information if biochar is a good option in termite control and management. Do you think, biochar will be the best environmental friendly extract used to ameliorate soil acidity and control termite infestation at same time? (i.e. can biochar control termite problem while ameliorating soil acidity simultaneously)?
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I don't think, application of biochar will greater over-moist conditions where termites would be a problem  , especially in arid regions. In this region , it's waterlogging conditions because of impeded drainage plus presence of calcium carbonate indurated hardpan further accentuates the situation. Biochar will no way create any such situation, predisposing to termites infestation where rainfall is so low..
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Baits that can be made at the garden and that were tested by an expert.
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Thank you indeed .
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I need it to be in liquid form. Because after that i would mix it with methanol for toxicity and repellent test against termites. Any solvent that won't compromise the results for further tests? 
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For metanol usually aceton first, try 100ųL, then EtOAc, or with ultrasonic, water bath. Or you have to remove the wax from the extract first
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I would like to post my extracts and isolated compounds to your laboratory and obviously collaborate on a paper or two. 
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Hi Nicholas, I can investigate its acaricidal/insecticidal/repellency effects on some acarians and insects in laboratory conditions. I don t access to termite but bed bug (Cimex spp.) / Hyalomma spp. and Dermanyssus gallinae are available in our lab and we can collaborate in this issue. If you are willing, please contact me via e-mail: moshaverinia@um.ac.ir
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Commonly termites nest building from soil mixing natural material. They are a social insects and living in different castes such as workers, soldiers, queen and male. In my activities as entomology, so difficult to find termites queen. I need more information how to detect presence of her, I mean where her exact location?It impossible broken all of the nest to find it. Thank you.
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Dear Sri Nuraminah
Reproductive kings and queens are 1/2" long, winged and black or brown in color. Workers are sterile and usually hidden within infested wood. They are 1/4" long, wingless and white in color.
please look into the links which are useful to you
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I need any articles regarding insecticide resistance in termite especially pyrethroid?
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Thank you Aarti, it is very useful
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Hello friends! I am currently working on extraction and characterization of insect venom and I strongly need experts to tell me the best and easiest methods to follow. Thanks
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Dear Adeniyi
I am more an expert of parasitoid wasp venom but I remembered watching a video explaining the extraction process of bullet ant venom. Here is the video link :
I hope it will be helpful
Marylène
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Are there any reproductive symbionts in the termites (Isoptera: Macrotermitinae) that may be used to manage termites of economic importance? Any published research on the occurence of symbionts/parasites naturally infesting the reproductive system of the termitidae?
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I strongly believed that you can explore microbiological approach using identified pathogenic bacteria or fungi / mould to manage termite of economic importance (i.e Biological control measure). So, seek collaborative approach.
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Termites host nitrogen fixing symbionts and may therefore in principle show N conversion efficiencies exceeding 100%, however, we have not been able to find data on the relationship between ingested N and the realised amount incorporated into termite biomass. Does such data exist for termites or alternatively for other insects? We want to compare our results on ant colonies with other insects. 
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Many soil fauna studies (old and recent) mix together social and non-social insects in their analysis, and ants and termites often have 10x more individuals in total specimens sampled. I believe that compare data from social and non-social insects are a source of bias.  This, together with a low taxonomic resolution, by treating the ants just like "formicidae" slows or barely do not allow, the advancement of knowledge in the field of biodindicators.
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You certainly have a valid point, and I am one of the many guilty folk.  But the answer to your question also depends on what exactly are the questions posed in the study, and what are the specific methods. In some cases, a simple log-transformation will solve the problem. In other cases, it may be a good idea to run both separate analyses for social and other insects, and combined ones, too see whether the overall  patterns are not simply driven by the former.
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I'm pondering with an idea to use termites to wood bio-conversion. Most of the laboratory experiments I have found have been with colonies ranging from 100 to 3000 individuals. Though in wild some species have been estimated to have colonies of over 100 000 individuals.
I bet that there is active laboratory colonies and maybe even attempts to mass produce termites and would like to have some clues to find them or at least gather information about sizes of successful laboratory colonies/strains.
Termites would probably be some subterranean species, maybe even invasive ones for efficiency.
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Minimum termite size is 250 to initiate a successful colony.  see my papers.
RASIB
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Dear colleagues
In my company (Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency in Korea), one project is started to protect invasion of termites to Korea. I read ‘Biology of Invasive Termites: A Worldwide Review’ published in ‘Annual review of entomology’ and know dangerous 28 termite species in the world.
To protect these species into Korea, I would like to make figures and COII sequences about the 28 species. This information will be used to identify termite species in progress of Quarantine.
Until now, I secured five species, Reticulitermes flavipes (collected in Gorgia), Coptotermes acinaciformis, C. curvignathus, C. formosanus, C. gestroi (received from foreign researchers)
To secure the rest 23 species samples, I need your helps. Could you give some idea about this work? I really sorry to bother you. But, I think that this work is really important in my country.
thank you very much.
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"the list of 28 invasive species in the world"
Mastotermes darwiniensis
Porotermes adamsoni
Zootermopsis angusticollis
Zootermopsis nevadensis
Glyptotermes brevicornis
Incisitermes immigrans
Incisitermes minor
Kalotermes banksiae
Cryptotermes brevis
Cryptotermes cynocephalus
Cryptotermes domesticus
Cryptotermes dudleyi
Cryptotermes havilandi
Nasutitermes corniger
Heterotermes convexinotatus
Heterotermes perfidus
Heterotermes philippinensis
Heterotermes tenuis
Reticulitermes flavipes
Reticulitermes grassei
Coptotermes acinaciformis
Coptotermes curvignathus
Coptotermes formosanus
Coptotermes frenchi
Coptotermes gestroi
Coptotermes sjostedti
Coptotermes truncatus
Odontotermes formosanus
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I concur with Phillip and you don't need new sequences but I understand that GenBank is full of errors.
I can provide Reticulitermes flavipes if you still want some.
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i need to examine the DNA assembly before administrating a botanical extract in it.
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I am with Geoff in this. What doe you really want to analyse? I have before extracted DNA from termite feces, with success. The issue is, what genes do you want to analyse/sequence?
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I am looking for published papers that discuss this, however, the only closest thing I could find talked very little about the size related to the mineral composition of the mound. I'd like to know if there is extensive research on the structural differences. 
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The physical structure of termite mound varies according to the ecological conditions. The tunnels and conduits serves as ventilation systems and the shape of these tunnels are specifically designed to regulate temperature. Construction of pinnacles, chimneys, and ridges are based on the height of mounds. There are few studies on compass termite which reveals the variation in the thickness across the axis according to the sun movement. The physical shape might also vary according to the Species, size of colony, water stress and food source.
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I’m studying termite taxonomy in the Republic of Korea. Unfortunately, only one species, Reticulitermes speratus, is distributed in my country. I would like to examine other termite species, especially, which are known as wood pests.
Could you provide specimens for study wood pest termites? In addition, please contact me if you need Korean samples (R. speratus).
Thanks.
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Dr.  Ahmed Hassan Hussein Mahmoud
Many thanks. If you send samples, I really thank you.
If you need anythings, I also can help you.
best regards,
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the biggest challenge for me to rear this termite is keeping the relative humidity between 90 to 95%. I was wondering if there is a method/substance to maintain this condition. I'll be glade if some one gives his/ her ideas about raising termite colony in Lab conditions.
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I have kept multiple Microcerotermes turneri colonies in the laboratory. I am not familiar with the species you are attempting to culture. However , if possible relocate an entire nest to the laboratory and then they can sort out their own microclimate. Supply with clay and water. Beware of alate flights, that’s a sure fire way to upset the lab manager! My nests synchronised their flights with wild nests despite being isolated in a building basement, with environmental control…….
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I am looking for papers showing  that the moon cycle (mainly through the light available at night) is having, or not, an impact on insect activities. I am especially interested on termites.
Thanks
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This may noy be what you're looking for, but I think it's really interesting
Rydin & Bolinder. 2015. Moonlight pollination in the gymnosperm Ephedra (Gnetales). Biology Letters. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0993
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I am dissecting termites to finally do protein analysis. What should is the most suitable buffer system that I should place the dissected guts into so that I could do protein analysis in future.
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Freeze them in liquid Nitrogen or -80 or -20°C if they are solid dissections.. If they are cellular extracts prefer tris buffer pH > 8 and make sure u are adding the protease inhibitor cocktail in it and store it in -20°C. U can add some glycerol to prevent freezing in -20°C. For longer storage put it in -80°C with or without Glycerol.
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Termite colony is high protected community which doesn't allow microbes to grow and affect their ordered life. However, in some cases there are some bacterial pollution in the colony due to several reasons such as humidity, temperature, intentional infection by human etc. 
I'm wondering if there are any documented examples which show that termites immunity is affected by any external bacteria?
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As to my knowledge termites dispose of a potent intestinal flora and eat up any sick or dead termites on their way through the underground tunnels (A. de B. Machado, 1912-2002, pers. comm.). But admittedly it is very difficult to control those affirmations. 
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The termites of isoptera order are very good eaters. The potential of this behavior in alleviating waste problem cannot be ignored. Some research papers revealed some interesting facts of termites and use of mites for the same. What is the practical utility and feasibility of exploiting this behaviour of termites from farmer's point of view?
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termites also potential plant pest so the decombostion in nature is acceptable for exaample in forest  or rumenant abdomenal but when used it as potential decomposer in farm yard this will yhreat your plats crops buliding of wood material.consider that the termite queen servive  for long period  in the sub service of the land
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The late Prof. Dr. Antonio de Barros Machado, Director of the Dundo Museum of Zoology and Anthropology in Angola (1947-1974) studied during more than 30 years of intense work (until 2003 in Portugal, Oeiras)  a great number of laterite and bauxite rock samples, in his opinion molded by termite activity in geologic times. He analyzed laterite and bauxite rocks  from many places on Earth. His results were only partially recognized because they put into question the "sedimentary origin" of theses formations. I have been dealing with his heritage and am ready to bridge important data for interested colleagues.   Grasset mentions in his double volumed encyclopedia part, dedicated to termites, that he never had met more convincing arguments as to the origin of these rocks then those of Barros Machado, though in his first approach, documented in the earlier Zoology encyclopedia, he was not yet convinced, but then surrendered to the smashing amount of proof, proposed by Barros Machado.
In the collection of private letters, there were more geology scientists to accept this innovating idea, but it still remains controverse. 
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I salute your dedication to the work, certainly the legacy which has been  left by late Prof. Dr. Antonio de Barros Machado should be maintained. If it losts it will be a great loss to entomologists about evolutionary significance of termites. In future certainly it will provide new directions to the experts in the field of geology and geochemistry and entomology.
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I got few thousands of termites shipped to me, and I kept them in an incubator at 28 C and sprinkled water whenever there was less moisture, they were doing fine for the first 10 days, now in one of the boxes, which was plastic made, I found yellowish greenish fungi growing, and some termites were dead, I separated the dead ones from the live to avoid any damage to living ones and found after 2 days that the new box (this time it was airtight box, this was the one available to me that moment) had fungi again and almost 70% termites died, they were kept on moist paper towels all the time, I am not able to figure out the probable reasons for this damage, though the other 2 boxes are quite fine. Eventually my goal is to feed the termites for sometime on softwood and then do my studies.
Please help me with your suggestions, so that I can try to keep them alive
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In house culture of termites is a very difficult job, but by taking precautions one can maintain culture after reading the nature of termites. Dry wood termite can be cultured by providing soft wood pieces in special aerated boxes. Termites also feed on paper and pulp round shaped pipes designed according to the habitation of termites. Bamboo soft sticks of 1.5 feet size 56 mm diameter can be provided and other soft woods can also be used for termite culture. You should prepare a round shape box system a free dwelling cum invading system for termites.  
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There is so much mining, building activities in Zambia. Wont these activities not result in the loss of biodiversity on termite mounds?
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The first step is to take that concern to your local MP. If that fails (as it often does), join an environmental lobby group or set one up if there's enough support. Scientists don't like to become activists, but sometimes we have to wear more than one hat! See how Forest & Bird in New Zealand tackled mining in sensitive areas head-on: http://victormeyer.net/F&B/Habitat_Aug-Dec_10.pdf or use this search tag: http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/search/node/mining.
Of course, the mining industry cares primarily about making money. Biodiversity only gets considered for the sake of ISO compliance.
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As individuals of drywood termite colony are distributed on different position inside nest-gallery, how do they "attract" nest-mate or inform their presence in certain chambers?
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Hi Lucas,
Thanks for your comment. It means a lot.
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Hi all,
We have been working with a termite species from the genus Odontotermes. We'd like to permanently remove termites from some mounds to observe their potential cascading ecosystem effects. Has anyone tried to do this?
It seems like one option to remove termites would be with insecticides, but we're worried this effect would only be temporary and termites may recolonize. One thing we've seen is people using plaster of Paris as a way to study mound architecture. Do you think we might be able to use plaster to permanently "plug" termite mounds? Anyone have any experience with these methods?
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Dear Grace Charles,
There are endless method to remove termite but ???  Termite can survive in the termite prone area even in those areas where chemical treatments have gone.
If you really want to find some sound and ecological manner, please find biological procedure  like inclusion and exclusion  of some organisms ( e.g. spider, ants, lizards, some insects which they prefer termite  as a food). Another technique, I have used for some trees, add some salt and biochar as a mixture  in the rhizosphere of tree. If you want to remove termite from soil then find out some information about soil feature then apply some chemical (not insecticides). Addition of sugar also reduces the population size of termite.  As Mr. Peter explained about killing of queen might be another way of procedure.
However, I do not  like   more technical and complex knowledge  if the problem is being a serious and warranting seriously to the nature and environment. For example, In India, few ares of  Punjab region is  termite affected. I have seen, some native tree species  (Dalburgia sissoo, Shisam, Mango,) as well as some exotics like  Silver Oak, Acacia auriculiformis, Cassia siamea etc. are highly affected with termite. Loss of significant  forest wood production by termite is an alarming  for ecologist and soil scientists to find a satisfactory methods for termite  removal. However, I am also waiting for a good method.
My Best wishes with you for good research on termite.
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I'm looking for research papers on urban forensic entomology. Of course, I understand that this sub-discipline is not as well-studied as the medico-legal aspect but I am interested in this and will be writing a short review soon on current topics in FE. Are there any cases of termite infestations and the litigation associated with it?
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Hi Scott
If you are interested in case studies you could do a lot worse than look up some of the legal reporting - a bit of a slog going through the civil courts reports but there must be a system for doing it.  Few of the cases I have been involved in would likely be suitable for "writing up" in the conventional scientific sense.  if you'd like to contact me i could certainly give you some cases to start with related to bed bugs, and biting generally, and some other infestations, e.g. food contamination.  if so you can get me on ian@insectresearch.com.
Ian
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Higher termites like Odontotermes are difficult to rear in laboratory in the absence of fungal garden. How do you manipulate this hard task?
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You can refer to:
Ausat, A Cheema, P. S.; Koshi, T. Petri, S. L. and Ranganathan, S. K.1962. Laboratory culturing of termites. In international Symp. on Termites in the Humid Tropics. New Delhi, October 1960. UNESCO, Paris, pp. 121-125.
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Can someone suggest me an easy protocol of DNA extraction from termites preserved in ethanol.
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Just crush termite in liquid Nitrogen, after that you can follow general protocol which is used for mammalian DNA isolation. 
Just remember one thing that is add N2 slowly slowly and simultaneously crush it.
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I ask this question because I am wondering if termites secrete specialized enzymes, a cocktail of lignolytic chemicals, or there is another way they do it.  Is it specific (stereo-, chemo-, etc.)?
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Termites carry a specific micro flora (bacteria, protozoa, ) in their digestive tract that degrades mainly cellulose and perhaps  lignin as well. Presently, I am not aware if somebody has looked more specifically in to the enzyme systems produced by this micro flora. It was once our goal to go after these enzymes to see if they can be blocked and by these methods control the termite populations.
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I found several papers discussed about food availability induces the emergence of secondary reproductive in Cryptotermes secundurs. However, it seems that other species of drywood termites are showing different response with that of C. secundus. Thank you very much!!
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Check the formation of secondary reproductives in Porotermes adamsoni (Froggatt).
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In the paper of Amy Mertl and Co. at page 8 in the results, they suggested an unidentified environmental factor that ants and termites have similar reactions to, any ideas as to what this factor could be?
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There are multiple environmental factors, soil clay proportion, for example, can influence the distribution of termite nests in the Amazon
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The Isoptera are true social insects. Usually termite colonies comprise of 1 queen + 1 king + workers + nymphs + soldiers (some species are soldierless) + secondary reproductives and sometimes winged alates are encountered. However, I have come across many colonies of the Termitidae which exhibit polygyny (polygamy) in Botswana. Thus two or more queens and two or more kings in one royal chamber. Anyone with good references and/or explanation?
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Here is a wild wild guess, type brain storming:
Studying Trichogramma species from Portugal and Spain, e.g. T. cordubensis, Vargas Piqueras, during rearing activities, the species only produced females. After the change of a honey in the adult diet, males appeared, and Stouthammer, et al. (Wageningen, NL) found out that Wolbachia was the reason of, or at least involved  in that change. The infection with these bacteria interfered in the sex ratio of the insect species. Curing the Trichogramma (first accidentally) by antibiotics contained in the honey (due to treatments of honey bees) Wolbachia disappeared and males appeared. (It is much better explained in the publications).
Now, when I went through the bibliography studied by the termite specialist António de Barros Machado, (Dundu Museum, Diamang, Angola, later Oeiras, Portugal) I found Russian literature (translated) referring that in the termite guts (don't remember the species) there were found Wolbachia. It then came to my mind that it would be very interesting to try to understand whether social insects appeared due to the extraordinary effect of Wolbachia on the sex ratio in those species, or could be a key factor.
Perhaps this could be a lead. Presence or absence of Wolbachia, on one hand, and natural or introduced antibiotics in the environment and diets, on the other. I can try to find back the references of the publications I mentioned, if you want to consider that idea. 
Evidently there is much more to the social behavior, like chemicals produced by reproductive adults, and their concentration changes along the aging of these. There is a lot of research on this subject e.g. in the social bumble bees, which present strong competition crises in the hives during the summer generation. Coexistence seems to be excluded there.
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I am interested on woody debris decomposition in tropical environments. Are there any techniques or approaches to control termite effect during the decomposition process? Any articles out there?
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There are several methods you could consider, depending on your research question. What is your question exactly? Do you want to quantify the amount of wood decomposed by different organisms, such as termites, wood-boring beetles, and fungi? Are you interested in other factors, such as soil type, rainfall, or the location of the wood? For example, the wood may be above ground (dead standing trees or dead branches on trees), on the ground (fallen dead branches, fallen dead trees), or underground (dead roots, or fallen branches that have been covered by soil).
You can use wrap wood with woven metal mesh of various gap sizes to prevent access by different organisms. There is a commercial product "Termimesh" http://www.termimesh.com.au/ but it isn't available in China. There are many other types of metal mesh, so you could trial those available to you in your location to determine which would work for your experiment.
You can use insecticides. There are many different types with various modes of action, so you should be careful in choosing. Many papers have used insecticides for exclusion; eg. my paper on crop yield Evans et al 2011 Nature Comms 2, 262 doi:10.1038/ncomms1257 or Bagchi et al 2014 Nature doi:10.1038/nature12911.
Good luck
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I just carried out a sampling of termites in Lagos, Nigeria. I have their pictures. Can someone help with keys to identify African termites to species level.
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Hello Kehinde,
You may also want to get in touch with Paul Eggleton at the Natural History Museum in London. He works on taxonomy, systematics, and biogeography of Africa termites.
Good luck!
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Looking for data about the presence of exactly species Reticulitermes lucifugus
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I'm looking for limits of the prevalence of this species in Europe and places outside Europe where it was noted.I would like to determine it or moving the boundary of occurrence. Could I write a private message to GR? I would describe what I have and what I'm looking for.
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Termites being very advanced social insects, are able to avoid any changes in their surroundings, yet some methods are there to lure them. If anyone has tested any method successfully, it would be useful to me.
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Thanks Arne
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I had run so many laboratory test against termites and the result is 100% mortality on control samples with the weight loss. Is my test valid? Is it compulsory that the termite on control samples should live after 28 days?
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Hi Roszani,
With the research question that you are asking whether the treated blocks have any effect compared to untreated blocks, the prediction would be that the termites in the control blocks are not affected meaning the survival rate is high compared to the treatments. So, the answer for your question if 100% mortality is valid in control samples is NO based on the question that you are asking.
Check all the materials that you used and recollect the steps that you performed while doing this experiment. Was the sand in the container moist enough ? or was it too wet? With the experience from others I learnt that too much water inside the container kills the termites. If possible you can repeat the experiment and be extra careful.
Hope this helps !!
Good luck
Priya
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I am trying to see the development of the termite eye and I need to be able to see the pigment cells of the eye. I have tried Durcupan and currently going to try LR White and Spurs Resin.
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.If you use appropriated fixative for termites eye,HEMA(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate)wiil give very good results.
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For studying associations with Termitomyces and Termites
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In identifying termites, you can use the guide found on this link. www2.hawaii.edu/~entomol/pdf_files/hsp-1.pdf
Basically, the journal article was published by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR). This journal states how some example of termites in Hawaii are identified. Some of the most common termites thriving in Hawaii would be the Formosan subterranean termites, the dry wood termite, and the damp wood termite. Respectively, the Formosan subterranean termites live primarily underground while the other two lives above ground level. Damp wood termites use the moisture around their surroundings, while the dry wood termites use water produced from the digestion of dry wood . Dry wood termite colonies typically produce kick out holes, from which fecal pellets are expelled. These pellets are called frass, are are similar in appearance when compared to fine grains of sand. Subterranean termites on the other hand do not make kick out holes. The presence of the mud tubes is one indicator. In identifying termites, as to compared to other species, the fecal product can be observed. (frass) Another factor that could be an identifying would be that of the appearance of antennae, wings, and waist. The link provides additional information of the termite castes that are available in hawaii, and this is can really be helpful and can become your references. :)