Pacific Southwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 245, Berkeley, California 94701, USA.
Cuticular hydrocarbons were characterized for several species of termites from California, Hawaii and the British Virgin Islands by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Species examined include Zootermopsis nevadensis, Cryptotermes brevis, Incisitermes minor, I. immigrans, and Procryptotermes corniceps. In addition, frass collected from some of these termite colonies was extracted and the hydrocarbons isolated and identified. We saw patterns resulting from frass extraction that were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to the corresponding cuticular hydrocarbon profiles. Hydrocarbons in the fecal pellets could be deposited from the cuticle lining the rectum, from ingested exuviae, or from direct contact with the cuticle of colony members. In any case, this suggests the possible utility of using termite leavings to verify the species if live insects cannot be collected.