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

Abstract

This work conducted in Sharkia Governorate, data showed that, the highest number of foraged workers of Anacanthotermes ochraceus (Burm), was found during spring and autumn, 2014, and the lowest was occurred in summer season, the numbers begun increased gradually in January, February, March, April and May, then decreased in Jun, July and August. Workers caste represented (77.73% of total colony). Nymphs showed that, the largest number occurred during autumn, and the least was occurred in summer, begun increased in Jan., February, March, April and May, then decreased in Jun-July and Nov-Dec. Nymphs represented (13.36% of total colony). Soldiers caste were highest during autumn in Sept., then decreased during winter in Nov.-Feb., and began to rise again during March, April and May, while the least number occurred during summer in June-July. Soldiers represented (7.29% of total colony), and showed highly rates correlated with the swarmers and the various forms. Swarmers or "alates" were found highly during April and Oct., and the lowest rate occurred in Feb. Crowds of swarmers appeared twice during the year in February, March, April and May, then disappeared and reappeared again in Sept., Oct. and Nov., the swarming were found in spring and autumn seasons and represented (1.69 % of total colony). Termite castes were abundant in two periods/year in spring and autumn when max., temperature of soil temperature ranged between (25-35ºC), the mini., soil temperature ranged between (13-27ºC), the rainfall were (0.0, 33.0 and 97.6 m 3 /Inch 2), and the relative humidity higher than (70%), while castes were lower in summer and winter seasons when soil max., temperature were less than (25 ºC) and higher than (35 ºC), the mini., temperature ranged between (8-26 ºC), the rainfall higher than (100 m 3 /Inch 2), and the relative humidity less than (70%). Crowds of swarmers avoid time rainfall and appeared profusely in the periods after the rain when the weather is warm and the soil is moist, the homeowners begun to see winged termites emerge in large numbers inside their home on the soil surface. Statistical analysis showed no significant for tested factors, while were significant with R.H. was the main reason for this effect.