Abstract: Objective To investigate the behaviors of individuals of Reticulitermes flaviceps, Reticulitermes chinensis, and Coptotermes formosanus when they meet and the effects of tetracycline, penicillin, and streptomycin on the nestmate recognition in termites. Methods The behaviors of test termites when they met were observed in a Petri dish. Results Intense agonistic behaviors among the individuals of R. flaviceps, R. chinensis, and C. formosanus were observed when they met one another. Of them, C. formosanus had the strongest attack ability, and there was no significant difference in attack ability between R. flaviceps and R. chinensis. When treated with tetracycline, penicillin, and streptomycin separately, the individuals of C. formosanus showed intense agonistic behavior when they met one another, suggesting that the three antibiotics influenced the nestmate recognition in C. formosanus. Conclusion The individuals of different species of termites would attack one another when they meet, and antibiotic treatment would influence the nestmate recognition in termites.

Key words: Coptotermes formosanus, Reticulitermes flaviceps, Reticulitermes chinensis, Antibiotic, Agonistic behavior

摘要： 目的 了解黄胸散白蚁、黑胸散白蚁和台湾乳白蚁个体相遇时的行为反应及四环素、青霉素和链霉素处理对同伴识别的影响。方法 在培养皿内直接观察供试白蚁相遇时的行为反应。结果 黄胸散白蚁、黑胸散白蚁和台湾乳白蚁个体彼此相遇时会发生激烈的格斗行为;其中台湾乳白蚁的格斗能力最强,黄胸散白蚁和黑胸散白蚁的格斗能力差异不大;四环素、青霉素和链霉素分别处理的台湾乳白蚁个体,彼此相遇时会发生较激烈的格斗行为,说明这3种抗生素处理会影响台湾乳白蚁同巢个体之间的相互识别。结论 不同种类的白蚁个体相遇时会发生格斗行为,抗生素处理会影响同巢个体的相互识别。

关键词: 台湾乳白蚁, 黄胸散白蚁, 黑胸散白蚁, 抗生素, 格斗行为