Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: THIAGO HENRIQUE CAVALCANTI DE MENDONÇA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : THIAGO HENRIQUE CAVALCANTI DE MENDONÇA
DATE: 23/02/2026
TIME: 14:00
LOCAL: Auditório PRPG
TITLE:

Toxic silence: prior imidacloprid exposure reduces alarm signaling in a nasute termite species

KEY WORDS:

alert communication, behavior, neonicotinoid, vibration

PAGES: 33
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Agronomia
SUBÁREA: Fitossanidade
SPECIALTY: Entomologia Agrícola
SUMMARY:

Termites are eusocial insects that rely on complex communication systems to maintain social cohesion and coordinate collective responses. Among these, vibrational signaling plays a key role in alarm communication and collective defense. Exposure to neurotoxic compounds, such as imidacloprid, may disrupt these processes. Here, we investigated the effect of prior exposure to imidacloprid on the alarm behavior of Nasutitermes corniger (Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae) at three organizational levels: individual, group, and colony. We hypothesized that termites previously exposed to a sublethal dose of imidacloprid would exhibit a time-dependent reduction in alarm signaling. To do so, manipulative behavioral bioassays were conducted, and vibratory activity was recorded at different time intervals using digital camera for video analysis. At the individual level, previously exposed termites exhibited an initial increase in vibrational activity two hours after exposure, followed by a marked decline at 48 hours. At the group level, previously exposed groups initially triggered stronger alarm responses in naïve individuals, but this response progressively weakened over subsequent days. At the colony level, vibrational activity decreased markedly after exposure and remained suppressed for up to 192 hours (eight days). Overall, these results demonstrate that prior exposure to imidacloprid compromises alarm communication across social scales in a time-dependent manner. The observed reduction in alert signaling likely reflects a trade-off, in which termites balance the energetic and social costs of alarm communication against the perceived risk. Our results highlight the sublethal effects of imidacloprid on termite communication and social coordination.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Interno - PAULO FELLIPE CRISTALDO
Externo à Instituição - SIMÃO DIAS DE VASCONCELOS FILHO - UFPE
Externo à Instituição - JOSÉ WAGNER DA SILVA MELO - UFPE