JOURNAL of Soil Biology and Ecology

The colony members and their biometrics of the mound building termite Odontotermes obesus (Rambur)

Author:

T.G. AVINASH AND N.G. KUMAR

Abstract :

The mound-building termite Odontotermes obesus's queen deposited white and translucent cylindrical-shaped eggs in the royal chamber were transported and deposited in the fungal combs. The mean weight of 100 eggs was 0.01±0.001g. Early and subsequent stages of nymphs were active in the primary and surrounding fungal combs, respectively. A significant portion of the nest inmates were workers. The worker's body and abdomen length were 3.63 ± 0.11 mm and 1.91± 0.15 mm, respectively. The length and width of the head were 1.07 ± 0.02 and 0.94 ± 0.06 mm, respectively. The soldier's right and left mandible lengths varied from 0.65-0.82 (0.76±0.06 mm) and 0.71-0.85mm (0.78±0.05 mm). Dull white alate nymphs possessed prominent wing pads and bulged abdomen. King was present with the queen in the royal chamber, and its mean body length was 8.12±0.33 mm. The queen's body weight ranged from 1.86 - 7.83 g (4.27 ±2.58 g).

Key words: Odontotermes obesus, eggs, workers, soldiers, king -queen

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