THE BIOSPECKLE METHOD FOR BIOACTIVITY INVESTIGATION OF NASUTITERMES CORNIGER TERMITES

Termites are present in different environments, they perform the functions of cycling organic compounds in the soil and decomposing organic matter. Through this behavior, some species can generate great economic losses in the agricultural environment for some cultures. Such insects can communicate through semi-chemical and vibroacystic signals. These signals transmit different types of messages. The vibroacoustic signals occur when there is interaction between the generated vibrating waves, which can, consequently, generate understandable optical interference phenomena when light is applied, one of these phenomena that can be understood is the dynamic biospeckle. It is proposed in this research, to evaluate the bioactivity of the termite Nasutitermes corniger (Insecta: Isoptera) during the walk using the optical phenomenon of interference Biospeckle. Termites were collected in colonies present on the University campus of the Federal University of Sergipe-UFS. 25 individuals were randomly selected, distributed in 5 groups. Such individuals will be submitted to the simulation activity of walking in arenas created using Petri dishes (14 x 1.5 cm) which were exposed to laser light, during the movement of the insect videos were captured which were later processed using the Generalized Differences Method and the Moment of Inertia. It was possible to detect the areas of walking and of greater activities caused naturally by the groups of Nasutitermes corniger present in the arenas, as well as the method of MI showed to be significantly different when analyzed before and during the walking. Thus, it is possible to analyze the walking activity of Nasutitermes corniger by means of dynamic biospeckle in different types of light, which can be applied as a possible tool to evaluate the termite's bioactivity.