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Olfactory and Trail-Following Responses of Coptotermes curvignathus to Selected Plant Leaf Extracts

Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology & Biology Education · Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026) · pp. 329–339

DOI
10.15294/biosaintifika.v18i2.49378
ISSN
2338-7610, 2085-191X
Published
2026-08-20
Publisher
Universitas Negeri Semarang
Language
eng

Abstract

Subterranean termites, particularly Coptotermes curvignathus, are destructive pests that cause serious damage to wood, crops, plantation commodities, and building structures. The development of plant-based semiochemicals may provide an environmentally friendly alternative for termite management by utilizing natural compounds that influence termite orientation behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the olfactory and trail-following responses of C. curvignathus workers to selected plant leaf extracts and to identify their potential roles as attractants, repellents, or trail-disrupting agents. Leaves of cajuput, eucalyptus, citronella, pine, and tea tree were extracted using 70% ethanol, concentrated by rotary evaporation, and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Olfactory responses were tested using a Y-tube olfactometer, while trail-following behavior was evaluated using a Y-shaped filter paper assay. Each treatment was replicated 15 times using different worker termites, and the data were analyzed using the chi-square test. The highest olfactory response was observed in cajuput extract (80.00%), followed by eucalyptus (60.00%), pine (53.33%), tea tree (40.00%), and citronella (33.33%). In the trail-following assay, cajuput produced the highest positive response (93.33%), followed by pine (80.00%), eucalyptus (53.33%), tea tree (33.33%), and citronella (26.66%). GC-MS analysis showed that cajuput was dominated by α-pinene and 1,8-cineole, while citronella contained geraniol and citronellol, compounds associated with repellent activity. These findings indicate that plant-derived volatile monoterpenes influence termite orientation and trail-following behavior. This research supports SDG 12 and SDG 15 by promoting plant-based termite management and reducing reliance on synthetic termiticides.

Keywords

Collaboration network of the authors

40 authors · 110 co-authorship links · 9 across different organisations · showing the 40 most connected

Hover or tap a name to highlight its co-authors. Double-click to open the author's page.

  • State University of Semarang
  • Universitas Papua
  • Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
  • University of Technology Malaysia
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Different organisations
  • Same organisation
  • Affiliation unknown
  • Thicker line = more joint articles · bigger circle = more articles
Show as table
Co-authorOrganisationJoint articles
Fahrur RoziInstitut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember4
Heru SetyantoAffiliation unknown4
Rifa’atunnisa Rifa’atunnisaAffiliation unknown4
Juhadi JuhadiAffiliation unknown4
Muh. Yusram MassijayaAffiliation unknown3
. SuhasmanAffiliation unknown2
Dyah Rini IndriyantiState University of Semarang2
Ning SetiatiAffiliation unknown2
Rizqi Fitri NaryantoAffiliation unknown2
Deni Fajar FitriyanaAffiliation unknown2
M. PaiticenState University of Semarang1
Elda Irma Jeanne Joice KawulurUniversitas Papua1
Silvia Hanna Kusuma SiraitUniversitas Papua1
S. MohammedUniversity of Technology Malaysia1
Abu BakarAffiliation unknown1
I Putu Eka WijayaAffiliation unknown1
Dina SetyawatiAffiliation unknown1
Naresworo NugrohoAffiliation unknown1
Rohny Setiawan MaailAffiliation unknown1
Dede HermawanAffiliation unknown1
Astuti ArifAffiliation unknown1
Ely RudyatmiAffiliation unknown1
Pramesti DewiAffiliation unknown1
Sriyadi SriyadiAffiliation unknown1
Rusyida AuliyaAffiliation unknown1
Naeli Tamin QonitaAffiliation unknown1
Previanda ArditamaAffiliation unknown1
Galuh Ajeng AntasariAffiliation unknown1
FitarahmawatiAffiliation unknown1
Muhammad Khoirul AntonyAffiliation unknown1
Sendy Putra PradanaAffiliation unknown1
Sri Wahyuni Angel GurningAffiliation unknown1
Priyantini WidiyaningrumAffiliation unknown1
Aura Tirsa MelindaAffiliation unknown1
Ulin Nikmatul AflahAffiliation unknown1

Affiliations come from OpenAlex; journal OAI-PMH metadata carries none. Authors without an OpenAlex ID are matched by name, which can merge or split people.

Metadata source: OAI-PMH (metadata jurnal) https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/biosaintifika/oai, first harvested 5 Nov 2026, last seen 5 Nov 2026.
Original metadata (oai_dc) 
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	<dc:title xml:lang="en">Olfactory and Trail-Following Responses of Coptotermes curvignathus to Selected Plant Leaf Extracts</dc:title>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Subekti, Niken</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Maulana, Sonika </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Ramadhan, Ahmad Naharuddin </dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Nabila, Putri</dc:creator>
	<dc:creator xml:lang="en">Hadi, Yusuf Sudo </dc:creator>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Bioattractant</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">Coptotermes curvignathus</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">GC-MS</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">leaf extract</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">olfactory response</dc:subject>
	<dc:subject xml:lang="en">trail-following behavior</dc:subject>
	<dc:description xml:lang="en">Subterranean termites, particularly Coptotermes curvignathus, are destructive pests that cause serious damage to wood, crops, plantation commodities, and building structures. The development of plant-based semiochemicals may provide an environmentally friendly alternative for termite management by utilizing natural compounds that influence termite orientation behavior. This study aimed to evaluate the olfactory and trail-following responses of C. curvignathus workers to selected plant leaf extracts and to identify their potential roles as attractants, repellents, or trail-disrupting agents. Leaves of cajuput, eucalyptus, citronella, pine, and tea tree were extracted using 70% ethanol, concentrated by rotary evaporation, and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Olfactory responses were tested using a Y-tube olfactometer, while trail-following behavior was evaluated using a Y-shaped filter paper assay. Each treatment was replicated 15 times using different worker termites, and the data were analyzed using the chi-square test. The highest olfactory response was observed in cajuput extract (80.00%), followed by eucalyptus (60.00%), pine (53.33%), tea tree (40.00%), and citronella (33.33%). In the trail-following assay, cajuput produced the highest positive response (93.33%), followed by pine (80.00%), eucalyptus (53.33%), tea tree (33.33%), and citronella (26.66%). GC-MS analysis showed that cajuput was dominated by α-pinene and 1,8-cineole, while citronella contained geraniol and citronellol, compounds associated with repellent activity. These findings indicate that plant-derived volatile monoterpenes influence termite orientation and trail-following behavior. This research supports SDG 12 and SDG 15 by promoting plant-based termite management and reducing reliance on synthetic termiticides.</dc:description>
	<dc:publisher xml:lang="en">Universitas Negeri Semarang</dc:publisher>
	<dc:date>2026-08-20</dc:date>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/article</dc:type>
	<dc:type>info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion</dc:type>
	<dc:type xml:lang="en">Peer-reviewed Article</dc:type>
	<dc:format>application/pdf</dc:format>
	<dc:identifier>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/biosaintifika/article/view/49378</dc:identifier>
	<dc:identifier>10.15294/biosaintifika.v18i2.49378</dc:identifier>
	<dc:source xml:lang="en">Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology &amp; Biology Education; Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026): August 2026; 329-339</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2338-7610</dc:source>
	<dc:source>2085-191X</dc:source>
	<dc:source>10.15294/biosaintifika.v18i2</dc:source>
	<dc:language>eng</dc:language>
	<dc:relation>https://journal.unnes.ac.id/journals/biosaintifika/article/view/49378/11004</dc:relation>
	<dc:rights xml:lang="en">Copyright (c) 2026 Biosaintifika: Journal of Biology &amp; Biology Education</dc:rights>
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