Population studies of some species of termites in Al‐Kharj Oasis, Central Region of Saudi Arabia¹

Abstract

Five species of termites were recorded in the experimental plot: Microcerotermes sp., Microtermes sp., Amitermes vilis, Anacanthotermes ochraceus and Amitermes sp. The first two species were most abundant; they attacked more than 90% of the paper rolls (55.2 and 35.6%) compared to 4.4% for A. vilis, 3.1% for Amitermes sp. and 1.7% for A. ochraceus. Mixed cultures of termites were observed on a number of rolls, but competition between species was more markedly obvious between Microtermes and Microcerotermes. A. vilis and Microtermes showed the highest mean numbers of individuals/infested roll (124 and 127, resp.) and the highest ratios, soldiers: workers (26 and 29 soldiers/1000 workers, resp.), while Microcerotermes and Anacanthotermes showed the least (24 and 15 indiv./roll, 6 and 5 soldiers/1000 workers for both species, resp.). The population of Microcerotermes increased gradually from April through August, reached its maximum during the 2nd week of September when the soil temperature was 33.7 °C, and declined fairly rapidly during the 3rd week of November, when the soil temperature was below 20 °C. The population of Microtermes showed two obvious peaks: during the last week of June and 2nd week of September (soil temp. 33 °C). The 2 peaks were separated by a period of declining population which continued for about 9 weeks when the soil temperature was above 35 °C. By the 3rd week of November, the population decreased abruptly. A highly significant positive correlation seems to exist between the populations of the two species of termites and temperature (max., min., and soil temp, to a depth of 10 cm), but no correlation was evident between the populations and both r. H. and rainfall. Zusammenfassung Populationsuntersuchungen bei einigen Termitenarten in der Al‐Kharj‐Oase, Zentral‐Saudi‐Arabien Es wurden 5 Termitenarten in der Versuchsparzelle an den im Boden eingebrachten Papierrollen festgestellt: Microcerotermes sp., Microtermes sp., Amitermes vilis, Anacanthotermes ochraceus und Amitermes sp. Die beiden erstgenannten Arten waren am häufigsten, sie befielen zusammen mehr als 90% der Papierrollen (55,2 und 35,6%), verglichen mit A. vilis (4,4%), Amitermes sp. (3,1%) und A. ochraceus (1,7%). Mischpopulationen wurden an einigen Rollen beobachtet, jedoch bestand deutliche Konkurrenz zwischen Microtermes und Microcerotermes. A. vilis und Microtermes zeigten die höchste mittlere Individuenzahl pro Rolle (124 und 127) und auch die höchste Soldatenquote (26 und 29 Soldaten/1000 Arbeiter), während Microcerotermes und Anacanthotermes die geringsten Individuen‐ und Soldatenzahlen aufwiesen (24 und 15 Ind./Rolle, 6 und 5 Soldaten/1000 Arbeiter). Die Population von Microcerotermes nahm von April bis August allmählich zu, erreichte ihr Maximum in der 2. Septemberwoche (Boden‐Temp. unter 20°C). Die Population von Microtermes zeigte 2 deutliche Maxima während der letzten Juni‐ und der 2. Septemberwoche (Boden‐Temp. 33°C). Die 2 Spitzen waren durch eine Periode abnehmender Dichte getrennt, die ca. 9 Wochen dauerte ...

Impact of environmental factors on the population dynamics, density and foraging activities of Odontotermes lokanandi and Microtermes obesi in Islamabad

“…This variation shows that the termite population in the colony of M. obesi is high as compare to O. lokanandi so, more termites come to the foraging point. The number of individuals in a termite colony varies with species (Badawi et al 1984). …”

Prey choice and raiding behaviour of the Ponerine antPachycondyla analis(Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…and Odontotermes spp. (Badawi 1984;Sattur et al 2007). This suggests that foraging activity of P. analis is synchronised by its prey behaviour.…”

STUDY ON SWARMING AND COLONY STRUCTURE OF HARVESTER TERMITE, Anacanthotermes ochraceus (BURM)

“…Several type of traps have been used most frequently wooden stakes (Jones 1990), toilet paper rolls (Lafage et al 1973), corrugated card-board rolls (Lafage et al 1983, El-Sebay 1991, El-Bassiouny 2001and Ahmed 2003. Such methods of trapping which carried out in the same arid land by the absence of grass cover have given good results such as obtained in Egypt (Said 1979) and in Saudi Arabia (Badawi et al 1984).…”