Foraging Populations and Territories of the Tropical Subterranean Termite Macrotermes gilvus (Isoptera: Macrotermitinae)

Issue Date

1-2004

Abstract

Foraging populations and territories of four colonies of Macrotermes gilvus Hagen (Termitidae: Macrotermitinae), a subterranean termite common in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries, were estimated using the triple-mark-release recapture protocol. Estimates of foraging populations of M. gilvus found in residential and undeveloped areas ranged from about 0.25 to 0. 46 million termites per colony. Foraging territories covered an estimated area of 124-350 m2 around structures or beneath undeveloped land. The longest distance traveled by M. gilvus in this study ranged from about 16 to 48 meters. Mean wood consumption rate is about 1.32 to 2.36 kg per month with a total foraging biomass of 3.1 to 5.5 kg.

Source or Periodical Title

Sociobiology

ISSN

3616525

Volume

43

Issue

2

Page

169-177

Document Type

Article

Language

English

Subject

Foraging population, Foraging territory, Macrotermes gilvus, Macrotermitinae, Mark-release-recapture

Digital Copy

none

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