FORAGING ACTIVITY OF THE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE, Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burmeister) (ISOPTERA : HODOTERMITIDAE) AT El-FAYOUM GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Abstract

The foraging activity of the subterranean termite, Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burmeister) (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae) was studied at El-Saidia village, Sennoures district, El-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, throughout the two successive years 1997 and 1998 using perforated Polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C.) traps filled with corrugated cardboard paper then buried into the soil to a depth of 30 cm. Traps were replaced with new ones at monthly intervals. Parameters used for assessing foraging activity are % visited traps, number of workers, food consumption and soil translocation (construction activity).The percentage of visited traps ranged 0-34% in 1997 and 15-57 in 1998. The highest percentages of visited traps were recorded during July -October while relatively less percentages occurred between January and June. The vast majority of the foragers (98%) were workers but their numbers were not regarded as a reliable parameter for measuring foraging activity. Food consumption was relatively low during winter, more or less moderate during both spring and autumn and relatively high throughout summer with two distinct peaks; one in March -May and the other in September. Soil translocation increased progressively between January and September then tended to decline between October and December. Two peaks of soil translocation occurred; the first in May and the second in September. The relative efficiency of the four above-mentioned foraging activity parameters was discussed. Soil translocation seemed to be the most reliable quantitative parameter for the assessment of the foraging activity of the termite species under investigation.

The nutritional quality and contents of heavy elements due to thermal processing and storage in canned Thunnus tonggol fish change compared to fresh fish

“…The pH of canned tuna increased significantly after 9 months of storage ( p < .05). The higher pH values in canned samples may be due to the formation and accumulation of some amino acids and volatile nitrogen compounds such as NH 3 as a result of the breakdown and proteolysis of proteins during heat treatment (El‐Sherif, 2001). Czerner et al (2015) studied the effect of canning process on the physicochemical properties of Engraulis anchoita and found that the pH of the fresh fish was 6.07 which after canning and during storage at room temperature due to the breakdown of protein into basic products such as ammonia, amines, and hydrogen sulfide which increased to 6.12.…”

Surface and Subsurface Foraging Activity of Subterranean Sand Termite, Psammotermes hybostoma, Desneux (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) at El-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt

“…Food consumption is more or less moderate during both summer and autumn; it recorded two distinct peaks; one in the 1 st half of May and the other in the second half of October. Several authors assessed the surface foraging activity of different species of subterranean termites depending on the food consumption (Brain, 1978;Ali et al, 1982;El-Sebay, 1993;El-Sherif et al, 2009;Abd El-Latif, 2013 andSolaiman, 2014).…”

“…Both food consumption and soil translation rates are the most precise and more quantitatively accurate parameters for the assessment of termite foraging activity. (El-Sherif, et al 2009).…”

“…Termites are a group of social insects that belong to order Isoptera. Individuals in each species are differentiated into various morphological forms or castes that live in highly organized societies or colonies (Harris, 1961;Brain, 1978;Rizk and Salman, 1984;El-Sherif, et al 2009and Abd El-Latif, 2003and 2013. They are important pests in many countries particularly in the arid tropics and subtropics (Emerson, 1955and Harris, 1961and 1967.…”