HERMETISMO DE SOLENOPSIS GAYI (SPINOLA, 1851) (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) SOBRE RETICULITERMES FLAVIPES (HOLLAR, 1837) (ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE) EN NIDOS ARTIFICIALES

Abstract

In order to study closure in ants and termites on a laboratory setting, groups of Solenopsis gayi (Spinola, 1851) and Reticulitermes flavipes (Hollar, 1837) ants and termites, respectively, were
collected from different locations. Once in the laboratory and after the proper acclimatization period, intruder termites were transferred into colonies of resident ants, and intruder ants were transferred into colonies of resident termites. Behavioral performances showed on each resident species were recorded. Aggressive behavioral performances were present in both resident species; frequencies of these behavioral events were higher on resident ants.