<Original>Methane Emission by the Termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) I. : Effects of Termite Caste, Population Size and Volume of Test Containers

Abstract

Methane emission by termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki was investigated in relation to termite caste, population size and volume of test containers. Workers constantly emitted methane within the first 72 hr, whereas emission rates of soldiers gradually decreased after 6 hr test duration. Workers and soldiers showed maximum emission rates of 0.75 and 0.019 nmol/termite/hour, respectively, and no significant differences were observed regardless of test container volume when five or more individuals were served for measuring methane emission by workers. In addition, no conspicuous relationships between the volume of test containers and methane emission of workers were observed. Those findings suggested that physiological changes of termites through the year might be major factors which affected the methane emission by termites.