The consumption of lichens by Constrictotermes cyphergaster termites is suggested in the literature, but not yet with concrete evidence. We examined the use and richness of lichens consumed by C. cyphergaster during both the dry and rainy seasons in a semiarid environment in northeastern Brazil by monitoring the foraging of five termite colonies for ten consecutive days during each period. Twenty-nine species of corticolous lichens were consumed by C. cyphergaster, with seasonal variations in the richness of their ingestion. Chrysothrix xanthine, Pertusaria flavens, and Dirinaria confluens were the lichen species most consumed. TLC analyzes of termite gut contents revealed twelve secondary lichen compounds ingested in both seasons, while staining showed fragments of fungal hyphae, green algae, and typical lichen spores. This study represents the first systematic survey of the abundances of lichens that compose the diet of C. cyphergaster and indicates the seasonal selectivity of that resource related to the chemical compositions of the lichen stalks.
& Fontes, 2002). Termite infestations have become increasingly more frequent inside the urban perimeter. In tropical countries and coastal regions of continents, Harris (1971) reports infestations caused mainly by Reticulitermes spp. (Europe and United States), Coptotermes spp. (Australia, Asia and part of Africa) and Cryptotermes spp. (Colombia, and the vast majority of South American countries). In South America the infestations are caused mainly by Coptotermes gestroi
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