Chemical ecology ofReticulitermes flavipes (Kollar) andR. virginicus (Banks) (Rhinotermitidae) : Chemistry of the soldier cephalic secretions.

Reticulitermes flavipes andR. virginicus have been examined for the presence and possible defense functions of soldiers specific secretions. The cephalic extracts for soldiers of both species contained the identical two major sesquiterpenes which were absent from other castes. The sesquiterpenes have been identified as γ1-cadinene (I) and the corresponding aldehyde (II) by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry using homonuclear proton decoupling and by high-resolution mass spectrometry. When groups of termite soldiers were exposed to foraging parties of the sympatric native fire ant,Solenopsis geminata, the termites utilized only mechanical defenses. No evidence was obtained to indicate that the ants had been sprayed or coated with either an irritant or toxicant, and there was no evidence that an alarm had been promulgated.