Feeding Responses to Sound Wood by Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flavipes, and R. virginicus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki generally ate more and survived better than did Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), which, in turn, ate more and survived better than R. virginicus (Banks). Feeding preferences were similar in force- and choice-feeding tests. Two southern pines and sugar maple were the most preferred woods in both tests. The relative preferences for black walnut, black cherry, and redwood were altered by the type of test. When offered a feeding choice, the termites concentrated on the 2 or 3 most preferred woods and made little or no distinction between any of the remaining species. Samples from different trees of loblolly pine and baldcypress showed a marked variation in susceptibility to termite attack.