Native Boron Levels and the Effect of Boron Treatment on Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Coptotermes acinaciformis (Froggatt) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), and Mastotermes darwiniensis Froggatt (Isoptera: Mastotermitidae)

Although boron is a ubiquitous element found in rocks, soil and water, little has been determined about its physiological role in plants and animals. Comparing the effect of sublethal boron exposure on 3 species yields a broader view of the toxicity of boron compounds in termites. Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) were collected from colonies maintained in at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus in Honolulu, HI (United States); C. acinaciformis (Froggart) from Darwin, North Territory (Australia); and Mastotermes darwiniensis Froggart (Isoptera: Mastotermitidae) from Darwin, North Territory (Australia). Termites were exposed to untreated composite board or board containing zinc borate and anhydrous boric acid (ZB/B₂O₃ in a 60/40 ratio, 0.75% BAE) in a no-choice test for 5 d, either in Honolulu (C. formosanus) or Australia (C. acinaciformis and M. darwiniensis); survival rates, wet weight, and boron content of the termites were determined. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) was used to determine boron content in field-caught and experimental termites. There was a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in survival of the boron-treated Coptotermes in comparison with the untreated termites, although no mortality was observed in M. darwiniensis. All 3 species showed a significant (P < 0.01) increase in boron content in boron-treated individuals, and there were no significant differences observed between the field-caught and untreated termites.