Composition and Size of Some Termite Colonies in Arizona and Mexico

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Counts of larvae or workers, nymphs, soldiers, reproductives, and eggs are given in tabular form for 49 colonies representing 4 families of termites. Some support is given to the view that termites maintain rather speciesspecific caste ratios, at least in colonies of comparable size or age. In dry-wood species most individuals were larvae and nymphs, with nymphs sometimes far outnumbering larvae. In 2 dry-wood species the proportion of soldiers decreased with increase in colony size. It is suggested that some relation between surface area of the wood and number of openings to be guarded may influence soldier production. The percent alates in 10 drywood colonies varied from 10 to 37%. Annual alate production apparently increases with colony size, and evidence from 2 colonies of Zootermopsis indicated that the proportion of alates may greatly increase in colonies stressed for moisture. Although most dry-wood colonies were headed by primary reproductives, several contained neotenic reproductives, some replacing the primaries, others supplementing either primary or replacement reproductives. Totals indicate that mature dry-wood termite colonies seldom contain more than a few thousand individuals.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: