Rearing Two Subterranean Termites, Reticulitermes flavipes and Coptotermes formosanus, on Artificial Diets1

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Abstract
Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) and Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki termites survived, maintained their weight, and reproduced as well on several artificial diets as they did on a wood block control. The best diet for R. flavipes, and possibly for C. formosanus, included alpha-cellulose (34.06%), water (65.87%), a sterol (0.06%), and methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (0.01%). Casein or albumen (0.05%) may be added, but their value is questionable, and at levels of 0.5% or greater both proteins were toxic to the termites. Both β-sitosterol and ergosterol gave better results than cholesterol. This diet is suitable for physiological or nutritional studies and may be satisfactory for maintaining laboratory colonies of termites.

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