Feeding behavior of termites and crawl space environment

环境因素，如温度、湿度和风的吹拂，可能会影响白蚁的摄食行为。本研究以相对湿度（RH）与木材含水量的关系为研究对象，研究了相对湿度对台湾白蚁取食活性和建跑道活性的影响。结果表明：(1)当工蚁直接暴露于空气中时，70%左右的相对湿度足以表达正常的取食活动，而60%的相对湿度则有害。(2)在有水源的情况下，工人可以以含水量为10-15%的木材为食。(3)土壤的存在促进了低RH条件下工蚁的取食活动。(4)对于跑道建设来说，较高的相对湿度是必不可少的。(5)声发射（AE）监测结果表明，相对湿度在70%左右时最适合从木材内侧取食工蚁。(6)室内菌落对湿度变化的敏感性高于野外菌落。本研究首次明确了台湾金银花工蜂取食活动的最佳湿度条件。结合正在进行的其他环境因素的研究结果，将有可能控制对白蚁不利的爬行空间环境。

Environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity and wind blow, probably affect the feeding behavior of termites. In this research, effects of relative humidity (RH) on feeding activity and runway-constructing activity of Coptotermes formosanus were studied in relation to the moisture content of wood. The results obtained are as follows :(1) When workers were directly exposed to atmosphere, RH of around 70% was enough to express ordinal feeding activity, whereas 60% RH was detrimental.(2) Workers could feed on wood with moisture content of 10-15% if they had water supply.(3) Existence of soil promoted the feeding activity of workers in the lower RH conditions.(4) For runway construction the higher RH was indispensable.(5) Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring also showed that RH of around 70% was best for feeding on workers from the inside wood.(6) Laboratory colonies were more sensitive against humidity changes than field colonies.This study firstly clarified the optimum humidity condition in feeding activity of workers of C.formosanus. Together with the results of on-going studies relating to the other environmental factors, it will be possible to control the crawl space environment unfavorable to termites.