Fluktuasi suhu Sarang Rayap Tanah Coptotermes curvignathus Holmgren (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae).

Abstract

Termites were cryptobiotik and would create a tunnel for protecting their life. One of the external factors that influence the survival of termites is the temperature. Termites would always try to maintain the temperature of the nest in order to survive. The purpose of this study was to determine the insulating power of subterranean termites nest C. curvignathus to ambient temperature. This research was conducted at the Laboratory of Forest Products Termite Bogor Agricultural University. The research analyzed light intensity, the temperature inside subterranean termites nest, inside and outside temperature of laboratory. Data were processed by Microsoft Excel. The observation showed that temperature alteration at each termite nest is relatively more stable than temperature alteration inside and outside the laboratory. It was determine based on value of the amplitude. The value of amplitude inside and outside laboratory respectively ranged from 0.084-1.011 and 0.187-16.512, while in the nest A ranged from 0-0.344 and nest B ranged from 0.01-1.072. One of the factors that affect the value of the ambient temperatur is the light intensity. Termites are able to maintain the temperature of the nest when the outside temperature was fluctuates. It showed the insulating power of subterranean termites nest to ambient temperature. The nest temperature was warmer, between 30.56 °C to 33.18 ° C.