Termites are a good food source, being rich in proteins, fats, vitamins and many essential mineral nutrients, and thus provide food security for poor households. We report on a survey conducted in the Vhembe District Municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa, to identify edible termite species and find out how they are harvested, prepared, graded, packaged and marketed. We also looked at the socio-economic factors of the harvesters, marketers and consumers. Using a structured questionnaire, 104 individuals were interviewed from 48 villages. Most of the harvesters were over the age of 60 years but termites are consumed by the whole family. The results of the survey revealed that only three termite species are consumed: soldiers of Macrotermes falciger (89.90%), M. natalensis (8.08%) and M. michaelseni (2.02%). The preferred method of preparation was frying (77.55% of the respondents). At least 80.77% of the respondents indicated that some religions have restrictions on termite consumption but no ethnic restrictions were reported. The income derived from selling termites was estimated to range from ZAR2040 to ZAR17 680 per annum between April 2015 and April 2016. The results of this study showed that edible termites contribute significantly to the livelihoods of many rural families and this indigenous knowledge should be passed on to younger generations. Research on the sustainability of termite harvesting is recommended.

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This study investigated the effect of land-use on density and distribution patterns of termite mounds. A total area of 12 ha was investigated using four 1 ha plots from each of three land-use types (mango orchards, maize fields and communal rangelands). A total of 297 mounds from four termite species were recorded. Plotted GIS coordinates for each mound in ArcMap showed a random distribution pattern in all land-use types. The mean number of mounds per hectare was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in communal rangelands (52.5 ± 1.21), than in maize fields (14.75 ± 3.15) and mango orchards (7.5 ± 0.87), and dominated by small-sized mounds of Trinervitermes sp. Few mounds of Odontotermes sp. were found. Mounds of the edible termites, Macrotermes natalensis and M. falciger, were found in all land-use types, with the highest density for both species being in maize fields. Although the mound height for both species was similar, mound circumference for M. falciger was significantly larger (p < 0.001) which may limit land available for agricultural use. Density of mounds was influenced by land-use which may lead to changes in termite ecosystem functioning and availability of termites as a free source of protein. Résumé Cette étude s'est penchée sur l'impact de l'utilisation des terres sur la densité et la répartition générale des termitières. Une zone d'une superficie totale de 12 ha a été étudiée en utilisant quatre parcelles d'une superficie de 1 ha pour chacun des trois types d'utilisation des terres (vergers de manguiers, champ de maïs et pâturages communautaires). Au total, 297 termitières abritant quatre espèces de termites ont été comptabilisées. Les coordonnées SIG de chaque termitière relevées sur ArcMap ont démontré une répartition générale aléatoire pour tous les types d'utilisation des terres. La quantité moyenne de termitières par hectare était considérablement plus élevée (p < 0.001) sur les pâturages communautaires (52.5 ± 1.21) que dans les champs de maïs (14.75 ± 3.15) et les vergers de manguiers (7.5 ± 0.87), et dominée par les termitières de petite taille de l'espèce Trinervitermes. La présence de quelques termitières de l'espèce Odontotermes a également été constatée. La présence de termitières abritant des termites comestibles, les Macrotermes natalensis et M. falciger, | 675 NETSHIFHEFHE ET al. Mervyn Mansell, Schalk Schoeman and Lutendo Mugwedi for technical guidance. We would like to thank the field assistants: Ndamulelo Netshifhefhe, Mulatedzi Netshifhefhe and Nnditsheni Nthungeni for helping with data collection. Melba Makhubela is thanked for assisting in measuring the mounds. Mattheus Human of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Richard

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