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The termites’ reaction to pheromones in different colors of ballpoint pen ink. Abstract: We conducted the experiment with termites in order to determine how they react to pheromones present in different colors of ballpoint pen ink. The experiment consisted of two parts: in first part we used a ballpoint pen with blue ink, in second ??? a ballpoint pen with red ink. The reaction of termites was measured by their performance in 1 minute. Every termite in experimental group went through 3 tries in each part of the experiment.
The results were recorded and analyzed. The experiment showed that the termites’ reaction was virtually the same for different colors of ink. Introduction: The most common and economically important wood-destroying organisms in the United States are Subterranean Termites (Reticulitermes flavipes). Termites feed on materials that contain cellulose, primarily dead wood and wood by-products. Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies that may contain hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Each termite colony contains three forms or castes, which are the workers, soldiers, and reproductives (Picture # 1). These castes are physically distinct and perform different tasks in the termite society. Workers are about 1/8 inch long and are blind, wingless, soft-bodied, creamy white to grayish-white with a round head. Workers are the most numerous individuals in a termite colony, and they are the termite caste that actually eats the wood.
These sterile individuals forage for food and water, construct and repair shelter tubes, feed and groom other termites, care for eggs and young, and participate in colony defense. Soldiers are also wingless and resemble workers except that they have a large, rectangular, yellowish-brown head with large mandibles (jaws). The soldiers’ primary function is colony defense. Male and female reproductives can be winged (primary) or wingless (neotenic). Each can produce new offspring. Winged primary reproductives are called alates or swarmers.
However, they shed their wings soon after flight. Their body color varies by species from black to yellow-brown. A pair of primary reproductives that heads a colony is called the king and queen. Neotenic reproductives often serve as replacements if something happens to the king and queen. Neotenic reproductives are generally yellow or mottled black and the female’s abdomen may be distended due to developing eggs. (1) Picture #1 Termites communicate primarily by secreting chemicals called pheromones. Each colony develops its own characteristic odor.
An intruder is instantly recognized and an alarm pheromone is secreted that triggers the soldiers to attack the intruder. When a worker finds a new source of food, it recruits others to that food source by laying a chemical trail. (2) We observed the termite’s reaction to pheromones in blue ink. Termite was able to detect and follow the ink line. We proposed the hypothesis ??? the chemicals in the ink which make it blue can be detected by termites. The prediction in our experiment was that termites can detect blue ink, but not the red ink.
Methods: First of all, we identified the control and the experimental groups. Two termites in Petri dish #1 were used as the experimental group, which directly participated in experiment; two termites in Petri dish #2 were used as the control group, which didn’t participate in the experiment directly, but was observed to compare with the experimental group. In the first part of our experiment, we traced Petri dish on white sheet of paper using a blue-ink ballpoint pen and designated the spot inside the drawn circle where termites will be placed.
Then we placed termite #1 in the designated spot of the circle and observe his reaction. The measurement of reaction was how easy the termite can detect the ink line and how many revolutions the termite does in 1 minute. After 1 minute observation termite #1 was placed back into the Petri dish #1 for 3 minutes rest period. Meanwhile, we placed the termite #2 in the same spot and observed his reaction. After 1 minute observation termite #2 was placed back into the Petri dish #1 for 3 minutes rest period. The test was repeated 3 times for each termite.
The results of each try were recorded. The second part of experiment was identical to the first part, but this time instead of a blue-ink pen we used a red-ink pen. Results: Part 1 (using blue ink) | Termite #1| Termite #2| Test #1| Termite detected the ink line quickly, followed it and circled about 1 2/3 revolutions in 1 minute. | Termite detected the ink line quickly, followed it and circled about 1 revolution in 1 minute. | Test #2| Termite didn’t detect the ink line; the movements were random ??? both inside the circle out of the circle. Termite didn’t detect the ink line; the movements were random ??? both inside the circle out of the circle. | Test #3| Termite didn’t detect the ink line; the movements were random ??? both inside the circle out of the circle. | Termite didn’t detect the ink line; the movements were random ??? both inside the circle out of the circle. | Part 2 (using red ink) | Termite #1| Termite #2| Test #1| Termite detected the ink line quickly, followed it and circled about 1 3/4 revolutions in 1 minute. | Termite detected the ink line quickly, followed it and circled about 1 1/2 revolutions in 1 minute. Test #2| Termite had difficulties to detect the ink line. When ink line was detected, the termite circled about 1/2 revolutions clockwise, changed the direction and did about 1 revolution counterclockwise. Then the termite stopped to follow the ink line and began to move randomly. | Termite didn’t detect the ink line; the movements were random ??? both inside the circle out of the circle. | Test #3| Termite didn’t detect the ink line; the movements were random ??? both inside the circle out of the circle. Termite didn’t detect the ink line; the movements were random ??? both inside the circle out of the circle. | Control group: There were random, little or no movements during the experiment. Discussion: The results showed that we were wrong in our prediction that the termites can detect blue ink, but not the red ink. Our experiment showed that the termites’ performance was almost the same for both colors of ink, with insignificant superiority in performance when the red ink was used.
After discussion we concluded that the component that determines the color of the ink is has no reaction on performance of termites ??? termites can detect the ink of both colors. Also we assumed that inability of termites to detect the ink line after a period of time may be caused by evaporation of the pheromones that are present in the ink. Work Cited 1. http://ohioline. osu. edu/hyg-fact/2000/2092. html 2. http://www. ianrpubs. unl. edu/epublic/pages/publicationD. jsp? publicationId=338