Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-dwq4g Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-25T14:42:12.834Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Observations on the foraging behaviour of the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) (Isoptera: Hodotermitidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

F. D. Duncan  and
P. H. Hewitt
F. D. Duncan
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
P. H. Hewitt
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Field observations on the foraging behaviour of Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) showed that workers did not exhibit any marked preference for a particular grass species in a degraded savanna area in the north-western Orange Free State, South Africa. Two commercial baits, with carbaryl and sodium fluosilicate as their active ingredients, are used for H. mossambicus control; these baits were shorter, heavier and wider than the natural plant material collected by the workers. Thus, they are probably not transported as readily into the nest as the natural food. Minor workers were observed to be mainly responsible for transporting plant material, while the major workers were primarily responsible for cutting it. Observations on laboratory colonies indicated that workers collected litter first and thereafter harvested a tussock of grass from the top downwards. Foraging stopped once the tussock had been trimmed to a height of approximately 3 cm.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 79 , Issue 4 , November 1989 , pp. 631 - 642
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 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

Allen, C. T., Foster, D. E. & Ueckert, D. N. (1980). Seasonal food habits of a desert termite, Gnathamitermes tubiformans, in west Texas.—Environ. Entomol. 9, 461–466.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bissett, J. L. (1981). Seasonal abundance and natural mortality in the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) and its relation to veld management of redsoils in the semi-arid regions of Zimbabwe.—pp. 1–18in Proc. Zimbabwe Society for Animal Production Field day “Beef in Veld”, Matopos Research Station, Harare, Department of Research and Specialist Services.Google Scholar
Chippindall, L. K. A. & Crook, A. O. (1976). Grasses of southern Africa. Parts 163 & 174. Salisbury, Rhodesia, M. O. Collins.Google Scholar
Hocking, B. (1965). Notes on some African termites.—Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 40, 83–87.Google Scholar
Leuthold, R. H., Bruinsma, O. & Van Huis, A. (1976). Optical and pheromonal orientation and memory for homing distance in the harvester termite Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen).—Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 1, 127–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Luamba, J. L. N. (1980). Recherches sur le polymorphisme et aperçu sur l'influence de l'analogue de l'hormone juvénile sur le dévelopment d'un termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Isoptera, Hodotermitidae).—Biol.-Ecol. méditerranéenne 7, 169–171.Google Scholar
Nel, J. J. C. (1968a). Die grasdraertermiet, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen), as plaag van natuurlike weiveld.—J. ent. Soc. sth. Afr. 31, 309–321.Google Scholar
Nel, J. J. C. (1968b). Die ekologie van die grasdraertermiet, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) Hodotermitidae: Isoptera.—Tydskr. Natuurwet. 8, 151–155.Google Scholar
Nel, J. J. C. (1970). Aspekte van die gedrag van die werkers van die grasdraertermiet, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen), in die veld.—J. ent. Soc. sth. Afr. 33, 23–34.Google Scholar
Nel, J. J. C. & Hewitt, P. H. (1969a). A study of the food eaten by a population of the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen) and its relation to population density.—J. ent. Soc. sth. Afr. 32, 123–131.Google Scholar
Nel, J. J. C. & Hewitt, P. H. (1969b). Effect of solar radiation on the harvester termite, Hodotermes mossambicus (Hagen).—Nature, Lond. 223, 862–863.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noirot, C. (1969). Formation of castes in the higher termites.—pp. 311–350in Krishna, K.. & Weesner, F. M. (Eds). Biology of termites. Vol. 1.—598 pp. New York, Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, B. R. (1973). Common grasses of the Orange Free State.—127 pp. Bloemfontein, OFS Provincial Administration Nature Conservation (Misc. Publ. no. 3.)Google Scholar
Sands, W. A. (1977). The role of termites in tropical agriculture.—Outl. Agric. 9, 136–143.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tinney, F. W., Aamodt, O. S. & Ahlgren, H. L. (1937). Preliminary report of a study on methods used in botanical analysis of pasture swards.—J. Am. Soc. Agron. 29, 835–840.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Watson, J. A. L. (1973). The worker caste of the hodotermitid harvester termites.—Insectes Soc. 20, 1–20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar