Effects of Induced High Carbon Dioxide and Desiccated Atmospheres on the Water Loss and Survival of Subterranean and Invading Drywood Termites.

Termites have evolved a variety of morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations that together increase the chances of survival in unfavorable environments. Morphological advantages (i.e., a relatively large body size, a large mass of reserves that are metabolized by reducing body water mass, a mass of cuticular lipids, and cuticular hydrocarbons) increase the cuticular resistance to water loss under desiccating conditions. However, termites are incapacitated when exposed to high levels of CO2 and can be eradicated at sufficiently high levels. Based on the results of this study, in an artificially induced high CO2 atmosphere, the loss of body water from drywood termites increased, which generally led to increased rates of mortality. Although the mechanism for the increased loss of body water under high CO2 conditions was not determined, for practical application, the time required for fumigation can be reduced because of the increase in the rate of body water loss from drywood termites in high CO2 conditions.