TERMITES (ISOPTERA) ASSOCIATED WITH DUNG IN AUSTRALIA
Open Access
- 1 August 1970
- journal article
- Published by Wiley in Australian Journal of Entomology
- Vol. 9 (2) , 100-102
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1970.tb00778.x
Abstract
Termites play an important role in removing dry dung pads from Australian pastures. They feed on fibre in the pads, replacing it with soil or carton in about 12 weeks. Attacks on wet dung are less frequent, and the termites are probably then seeking moisture. The termites recorded from dung in Australia are listed, with notes on their food records. Only Mastotermitidae, Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae have been recorded from dung. The genus Amitermes predominates, and the most frequently recorded species are polyphagic scavengers.Keywords
This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- A contribution to the systematics of the genus Amitermes (Isoptera : Termitidae) in AustraliaAustralian Journal of Zoology, 1968