“…In the more humid Neotropical forests, the abundance and biomass of termites (including species inhabiting the soil, wood, nests and litter) were estimated at 2,060-4,845 individuals/m 2 and 13-17 g (fresh weight)/m 2 , respectively (Martius 1994(Martius , 1998Bandeira & Vasconcellos 2002). In other systems termite populations are able to remove 20% to 50% of the annual production of litter, reaching almost 100% in some arid regions (Holt 1987, Whiford 1991.…”