INTERCOLONIAL AGGRESSION IN THE SUBTERRANEAN 
TERMITE HETEROTERMES A UREUS 
(ISOPTERA: RHINOTERMITIDAE)* 
By Bradley F. Binder 
Department of Entomology, University of Arizona 
Tucson, Arizona 85721 
Introduction 
Foraging parties of the subterranean termite, Heterotermes 
aureus, are present throughout the year in the southwestern United 
States, but peak foraging activity coincides with the summer “mon- 
soon” season when the weather is warm with ample precipitation 
(Haverty et al., 1974). Average foraging territory for a colony of H. 
aureus is estimated to be approximately 12.5 square meters and each 
colony apparently maintains a discrete boundary with other con- 
specific colonies (Haverty et al., 1975). How these termites achieve 
colony isolation is unknown, although aggressive interactions have 
been observed between groups of conspecifics (Nutting, unpub- 
lished observations). Intraspecific territoriality and aggressive be- 
havior have been described in other termites (Clement, 1978; 
Darlington, 1982; Greaves, 1962; Howick and Creffield, 1980; Lev- 
ings and Adams, 1984; Nel, 1968; Thorne, 1982) and in several other 
social insects (Holldobler and Lumdsen, 1980; Levings and Trani- 
ello, 1981). The events preceding an encounter between individuals, 
the recognition and discrimination factors, and the consequences of 
aggression are not well understood in H. aureus. This study was 
done to examine the aggressive behavior between H. aureus colonies 
from different field locations and describe intercolony interactions 
of both paired individuals and simulated foraging groups. 
Materials and Methods 
Termites 
Groups of H. aureus were collected at various locations surround- 
ing Tucson, Arizona, during the spring and fall of 1986. Fallen 
* Revised manuscript received by the editor October 4, 1987 
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