Nest and colony structure of Odontotermes formosanus（Isoptera: Termitidae）

• Main Authors: Chi-Hsiu Huang, 黃基修
• Other Authors: Chin-Seng Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/51106250667874784655

碩士 === 東海大學 === 生物學系 === 92 === Odontotermes formosanus（Isoptera: Termitidae）, a member of higher termites, is a common subterranean species in Taiwan. They build nests in the soil and make tunnels in the ground to reach the sources of food. It is also the dominant species of termites at the altitudes from 0 m to 1,000 m in Taiwan. The purposes of this study are to survey nest structure, environmental factors near nest and colony structure of Odontotermes formosanus. Furthermore, symbionts in the nests, also known as termitophiles, are also been recorded. From 2002 to 2003, according to twelve records of swarming on Tunghai University campus, swarming appeared in the evening after rain from April to July. Development of nest and colony in laboratory breeding depended on female number and breeding duration. As a result of study in the field, depth of nest and numbers of accessory chambers of colony 1 were more than those of colony 2, and complete colony structure was found only in colony 1. As regards symbiotic fungus, Termitomyces albuminosus, grew fruiting body from fungus-comb near the ground, was inferred that growth of fruiting body may be restricted to depth of fungus-comb and length of rhizoid. The pH values of fungus-combs were lower than those of soil near nest. In the study of termitophiles, they could be divided into 4 classes, 8 orders, but their behaviors in nests are still unknown. Brahminy blind snake, Ramphotyphlops braminus, a predator of termite was also collected in termites’ tunnel.