Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:43:09.709Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Survival rates of humus-feeding Cubitermes testaceus (Williams) (Isoptera: Termitidae) in relation to organic matter content

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

Mary J.N. Okwakol
Mary J.N. Okwakol
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda
Get access

Abstract

The survival rates of humus-feeding Cubitermes testaceus (Williams) workers were determined in relation to soil organic matter content. Field collected termites survived for 15.5 days when fed on soil with the highest content of organic matter (5.1%) and for 8.1 days when fed on soil with the lowest content of organic matter (3.2%). Possible reasons for termite workers' survival are discussed.

Résumé

Les degrées de survie des ouvriers de l'espèce Cubitermes testaceus (Williams) furent determinés en relation avec les matières organiques du sol. Les termites collectées du terrain, nourries avec du sol contenant un pourcentage (5.1%) élève de matières organiques ont vecu 15.5 jours mais seulement 8.1 jours si elles sont nourries avec du sol contenant 3.2% de matieres organiques. Les raisons possibles de la survie des ouvriers de l'espèce Cubitermes testaceus furent discutées.

Keywords

Cubitermes testaceustermitesorganic matter
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , August 1989 , pp. 497 - 501
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anonymous (1962) Atlas of Uganda. Government Printers, Entebbe.Google Scholar
Edwards, R.E. and Mill, A.E. (1986) Termites in Buildings; Their Biology and Control. Rentokil, East Grinstead.Google Scholar
Finney, D.J. (1971) Probit Analysis. Cambridge University Press, U.K.Google Scholar
Fisher, R. A. and Yates, F. (1964) Statistical Tables for Biological Agriculture and Medical Research. Olive and Boyd, London.Google Scholar
Harris, W.V. (1971) Termites: Their Recognition and Control. Longmans, London.Google Scholar
Hesse, P.R. (1971) A Textbook of Soil Chemical Analysis. Chores, London.Google Scholar
Langdale-Brown, I., Osmaston, H. and Wilson, J.G. (1964) The Vegetation of Uganda and its Bearing on Land-use. Government Printer, Entebbe.Google Scholar
MacMahan, F.A. (1969) Feeding relations and radioisotopes. In Biology of Termites (Edited by Krishna, K. and Westner, F.M.), vol. 1, pp. 387–406. Academic Press, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Okwakol, M.J.N. (1976) Some aspects of the ecology of termites of the genus Cubitermes (Isoptera: Termitidae). M.Sc. thesis submitted to Makerere University.Google Scholar
Okwakol, M.J.N. (1980) Estimation of soil and organic matter consumption by termites of the genus Cubitermes. Afr. J. Ecol. 18, 127–131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pomeroy, D.E. and Rwakaikara, D. (1975) Soil arthropods in relation to grassland burning. E. Afr. Agric. For. J. 41, 114–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, R.M.C. (1959) Colony development in Cubitermes ugandensis. Insectes Soc. 6, 292–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar