Behavioural Processes 70 (2005) 32–40 Effect of biotic and abiotic factors on the tunneling behavior of Coptotermes gestroi and Heterotermes tenuis (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) Alberto Arab ∗ , Ana Maria Costa-Leonardo Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociˆ encias, Departamento de Biologia, Rio Claro-SP, CEP 13506-900, Brazil Received 7 January 2005; received in revised form 11 April 2005; accepted 11 April 2005 Abstract Using bidimensional arenas, the construction and spatial dispersion of tunnels constructed by Coptotermes gestroi and Het- erotermes tenuis (Rhinotermitidae) was determined under different laboratory conditions. Workers of both species showed an increase of the tunneled area with the rise in temperature. The activity of workers of C. gestroi also increased with the rise in soil moisture. Primary tunnels showed a high degree of dispersion in the arenas for all treatments. The presence of food did not influence the tunneling pattern of C. gestroi; but for H. tenuis there was a significant decrease in the number of tunnels. In addition, the type of substrate affected the tunneling pattern in both species. The understanding of food searching strategies of subterranean termites could contribute in the improvement of pest management programs based on the use of toxic baits. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Foraging; Subterranean termites; Tunneling pattern 1. Introduction In termites, search and foraging systems could be as efficient as those found in some species of ants (Traniello and Robson, 1995). Food search in subterranean termites involves: (1) the construction ∗ Corresponding author. Present address: Escola Superior de Agri- cultura “Luiz de Queiroz”, Universidade de S˜ ao Paulo, Departa- mento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agr´ ıcola, Av. P´ adua Dias, No. 11, Bairro Agronomia. Caixa Postal 9, CEP 13418-900, Piracicaba-SP, Brazil. Tel.: +55 19 34294122; fax: +55 19 34330562. E-mail address: ajao@rc.unesp.br (A. Arab). of a ramified tunnel system above or underneath the soil, thus allowing the communication of the nest with the food sources, and (2) the deposition of the trail pheromone on the substrate, which would allow the orientation and recruitment of workers and soldiers to- wards the site where the food was found. Nevertheless, subterranean termites exploit several food sources simultaneously and the food search behavior could be influenced by environmental factors. Therefore, the organization of the tunnel system by subterranean ter- mites in the colony foraging territories will determine the efficiency of the search and exploitation of the food sources by these insects (Traniello and Robson, 1995). 0376-6357/$ – see front matter © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2005.04.001