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http://dx.doi.org/10.9709/JKSS.2012.21.2.001

A Simulation Model for the Study of the Territorial Behavior of Subterranean Termites  

Jeon, Won-Ju (국가수리과학연구소 융복합수리과학부 가상생태계팀)
Lee, Sang-Hee (국가수리과학연구소 융복합수리과학부 가상생태계팀)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korea Society for Simulation / v.21, no.2, 2012 , pp. 1-9 More about this Journal
Abstract
Subterranean termites forage by constructing tunnel networks in soil and encounter food resources during tunnel excavation. Some species of termites can travel up to 150 m underground. They often travel to the surface to find wood cellulose to feed their colony, which in turn causes extensive damage to wooden architecture, such as timber-frame houses. This type of damage has been constantly increasing along with global warming because higher temperatures provide an ecological niche for termites. The damage is closely related to termite territory size and distribution. Recently, as a way to research termite control, the necessity of a mathematical model to simulate termite territory formation in relation to damage has increased. So far, however, few studies have been conducted on the development of a model because it is difficult to quantify or characterize the relationship between territorial behavior and field conditions including complicated environmental factors. In the present study, we suggest a simulation model of the territoriality of the Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki), and Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), based on empirical data. The model consists of 2 procedures. One describes tunnel network growth for each colony, and the other represents territoriality based on tunnel-tunnel interactions between different colonies. Using the model, we show changes in territorial competition according to the termination probability of tunnel growth.
Keywords
Subterranean termites; Tunnel networks; Territorial competition; Global warming;
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