Summary
The annual cycles of growth and foraging in the mounds of the eastern Indian mound building termiteOdontotermes redemanni (Wasmann) are described. The growth of the mound is rapid during November to March when both the rainfall and ambient temperature are low. Growth rate of the individual mounds declines as the mounds increase in height and stops at 200 cm. Foraging is nocturnal and common during March to September. The area foraged increases with the size of the mound and a positive correlation exists between them.
Résumé
Nous décrivons le cycle annuel de croissance et de récolte des termitières d'Odontotermes redemanni (Wasmann). La croissance du tumulus est rapide de novembre à mars, lorsque les précipitations et les températures ambiantes sont faibles. Le rythme de croissance des tumulus diminue à mesure que leur hauteur croît; la croissance s'arrête lorsque la hauteur atteint 2 mètres. L'activité de récolte est nocturne et courante de mars à septembre. Il y a une corrélation positive entre la surface de l'aire de récolte et la taille du tumulus.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banerjee (B.), 1966. — A statistical study of the population of the tropical mound building termiteOdontotermes redemanni (Wasmann).Ins. Soc., 13, 29–38.—Banerjee (B.), 1970. Scavenging and mound building termites.Ser. Tocklai Expt. Stn., 182, 1–3.—Banerjee (B.) 1971. Dynamics of termite populations-some theoretical considerations.Ins. Soc., 18, 21–28.
Bodot (P.), 1967. — Cycles saisonniers d'activité, collective des termites des Savanes de Basse Côte d'Ivoire.Ins. Soc., 14, 359–388.
Bouillon (A.), 1970. — Termites of the Ethiopian region. In «Biology of termites». Eds. K. Krishna and F. M. Weesner).Academic Press, Publ., New York and London, 643 p.
Coaton (W. G. H.), 1958. — The Hodotermitid harvester termites of South Africa.Dept. Agric. Sci. Bull. South Africa,375, 1–112.
Grassé, (P. P.), andNoirot (C.), 1950. — Documents sur la biologie de l'Odontotermes magdalenae n. sp.Ann. Sci. nat. Zool. Biol. Anim., 12, 117–142.
Mukerji (D.), andMitra (P. K.), 1949. — Ecology of the mound building termite,Odontotermes redemanni (Wasmann), in relation to measures of control.Proc. Zool. Soc. Bengal.,2, 9–26.
Sands (W. A.), 1961. — Foraging behaviour and feeding habits of five species ofTrinervitermes in West Africa.Entomologia exp. appl., 4, 277–288.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Banerjee, B. Growth of mounds and foraging territories inOdontotermes redemanni (Wasmann) (Isoptera: Termitidae). Ins. Soc 22, 207–212 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223430
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02223430