I didn't even know they liked music...

5aAB7. Comparative analysis of head-banging behavior in the subterranean termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes flavipes using high-speed imaging.

Tom Fink, Lichuan Gui, Yong Wang, Zhonghua Cao
Natl. Ctr. for Physical Acoust., One Coliseum Dr., University, MS 38677, Adarsh Jaiswal, Orwa Tahaineh, Roger Hasse, John Seiner
Natl. Ctr. for Physical Acoust., University, MS 38677, and Alan Lax
U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124

Disturbed soldiers of Coptotermes formosanus
FST readily headbang
HB only in their galleries and carton nests while Reticulitermes flavipes
Rf will also readily HB in an artificial chamber.

The headbanging motion was examined using the Photron FASTCAM-ultima APX video camera at 10 000 frames per second. Termites were placed in a 0.25-in. diameter hole in a wood block and induced to HB by touching them with a small brush. A PCB Piezotronics 352B accelerometer was used to detect HB-induced vibrations. These vibration signals were then received by the Photron Multi-Channel-Data-Link apparatus, which then superimposes the vibration waveform on the video frames corresponding to the head movement.

Thus, movement of the head can be correlated with the vibrations produced. Time between successive HB is about 70 ms or more in FST vs 40 ms or less in Rf despite the much larger head of Rf. Upward and downward head velocities in FST are, respectively, 100 and 240 mm/s, while the respective values for Reticulitermes are over 200 and about 400 mm/s. Acceleration for FST is about 400 m/s vs up to 700 m/s2 for Reticulitermes.

Both species may show head rebounding after the initial contact with the substratum.