Effects of termiticide exposure on mutual interactions between the treated and untreated workers of the Asian subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi

Mutual interactions, including reciprocal food sharing and grooming between chlorantraniliprole- and fipronil-treated, and untreated Asian subterranean termites, Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann), were examined using rubidium as a tracer. Two questions were addressed in this study: (1) After insecticide treatment, does the mutual interaction between termiticide-treated termites and untreated nestmates increase? (2) Does the nutritional status of both termiticide-treated termites and untreated nestmates affect the mutual interaction?