Abstract: [Objective] Odontotermes formosanus is a fungus-growing termite, on whose fungus garden the foragers have the habit of feeding.In this paper, we investigated the induction feeding activity of ten kinds of materials to O. formosanus foragers.The materials included the top layer of fungus garden in main chamber (TFM), the middle layer of fungus garden in main chamber (MFM), the bottom layer of fungus garden in main chamber (BFM), the fungus garden in satellite chamber (FSC), extraction of fungus garden, the pine wood powder infected by Gloeophyllum trabeum (PWG) and trunk's outer epidermis of Liriodendron chinense×L. tulipifera(TEL). The purpose was to provide basis for the research and development of food attractant.[Method] Induction feeding activities of different diets were evaluated according to the amount of foraging workers, the appearing time of mud sheet, the mud sheet area, the mud sheet covering rate, and the consumption rate of diet.[Result] The induction feeding activities from FSC, MFM and BFM were stronger than those from TFM, PWG and TEL (P<0.01). In terms of the amount of foraging workers and the consumption rate of diet, the induction feeding activity of FSC was superior to that of BFM (P<0.01). In terms of the amount of foraging workers and the appearing time of mud sheet, the induction of feeding activity of TFM was superior to that of PWG (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the consumption rate of diet between TFM and PWG. Among all tested diets, the induction feeding activity of TEL was the lowest (P<0.01). In another diet selection test, the n-hexane extraction of fungus garden, PWG and TEL were used as inducing materials. The induction of feeding activity of the diet dipped with FSC extraction (TEL+FSC extraction) or that of TEL+BFM extraction were all superior to that of TEL, TEL+TFM extraction,TEL+MFM extraction and PWG (P<0.01). The induction of feeding activity of TEL+MFM extraction was similar to that of PWG(P>0.05), but it was superior to that of TEL+TFM extraction or TEL(P<0.01). Moreover, the induction of feeding activity of TEL+TFM extraction was stronger than that of TEL (P<0.01) and TEL+FSC extraction got better performance than TEL+BFM extraction in the number of foraging workers and the consumption rate of diet.[Conclusion] The induction of feeding activity of fungus garden or that of the n-hexane extraction of fungus garden (except TEL+TFM extraction) were superior to that of PWG. The induction of feeding activity of fungus garden was superior to those of the n-hexane extraction of fungus garden. The induction of feeding activity of FSC and its extraction were highest in different experiment. The induction of feeding activity of PWG was superior to that of TEL. The intensity of induction of feeding activity of fungus garden and that of its n-hexane extraction were related to the location of fungus garden material or the type of fungus garden.

Key words: Odontotermes formosanus, foragers, fungus garden, induction of feeding activity, the pine wood powder infected by Gloeophyllum trabeum