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Mound structure of the fungus-growing termite Macrotermes gilvus in Thailand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

Tetsushi Inoue ,
Pisoot Vijarnsorn  and
Takuya Abe
Tetsushi Inoue
Affiliation:
Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Shimosakamoto, Ohtsu 520-01, Japan
Pisoot Vijarnsorn
Affiliation:
Department of Land Development, Bangkok, Thailand
Takuya Abe
Affiliation:
Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Shimosakamoto, Ohtsu 520-01, Japan
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Abstract

The change of mound structure of the fungus growing termite, Macrotermes gilvus, which has no clear air passage system in the mound, was examined in relation to the mound growth in a rubber plantation of southern Thailand. The nest proper consisted of the hive with a royal chamber and nursery, and diffused chambers with fungus combs. The location of the hive became higher with the growth of the mound. Therefore, colonies with a very large mound utilize only the upper mound part and this may be due to the lack of air passage systems in this species. A colony with a very large mound is not in reality commensurately large in colony size and this may be the reason why the density of huge mounds of M. gilvus in Thailand is much higher than that of Macrotermes in Africa.

Keywords

fungus-growing termiteIsopteraMacrotermes gilvusmound developmentmound structureThailand
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , January 1997 , pp. 115 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1997

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References

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