Summary
In the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) we analysed the structures and the lay-out of the underground gallery system of the fungus-growing termiteMacrotermes bellicosus. We found a radial pattern of principal and lateral galleries, as well as caves, depressions and vertical passages reaching a depth of 1–2 m. According to the results of our investigations the gallery networks built byM. bellicosus are unique among all known termite species;M. bellicosus constructs the densest (3.1 m/m2) and most superficial (2–6 cm under the surface) gallery networks among all comparable termite species investigated.
Under experimental conditions involving an observation arena with a glass bottom, we were able to observe the dynamics of the radial development of the exploratory passages. We also observed the manner and rapidity of the termites' exploration of new ground, as well as the role played by the discovery of food in the design of the gallery system.
We were able to show that, when food was scarce, the termites gained access to the arena much more rapidly, built a much denser gallery system and came up to the surface more frequently.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bodot, P., 1967. Cycles saisonniers d'activité collective des termites des savannes de Basse Côte d'Ivoire.Ins. Soc. 14:359–388.
Collins, N. M., 1977.The population ecology and energetics of Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman, Isoptera). Unpublished thesis, University of London.
Collins, N. M., 1979. The nests ofMacrotermes bellicosus.Ins. Soc. 26:240–246.
Collins, N. M., 1981. Populations, age-structure and survivorship of colonies ofMacrotermes bellicosus (Isoptera; Macrotermitinae).J. Anim. Ecol. 50:293–311.
Darlington, J. P. E. C., 1982. The underground passages and storage pits used in foraging by a nest of the termiteMacrotermes michaelseni in Kadjiado, Kenya.J. Zool. London 198:237–247.
Darlington, J. P. E. C., 1986. Seasonality in mature nests of the termiteMacrotermes michaelseni in Kenya.Ins. Soc. 33:168–189.
Gerber, C., 1986.Bedeutung der Termite Macrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman)beim Abbau von totem pflanzlichen Material in Kokosplantagen: Einfluβ auf das Ökosystem und kolonieinterne Organisation. Unpublished thesis, University of Berne.
Grasse, P. P., 1984. Les constructions des termites. II. Les Macrotermitinae (Chap. VII, pp. 254–361); Les constructions hors du nid (Chap. X, pp. 479–489); Le microclimat des termitières (Chap. XII, pp. 578–600).Termitologia, Vol. II, Mason, Paris.
Greaves, T., 1962. Studies of foraging galleries and the invasion of living trees byCoptotermes acinaciformis andC. bruneus.Austral. J. Zool. 10:630–651.
Lee, K. E. and T. G. Wood, 1971.Termites and Soil. Academic Press, London.
Lepage, M. G., 1981. L'impact des populations recoltantes deMacrotermes michaelseni (Sjöstedt) dans un écosystème semi-aride (Kadjiado, Kenya). I. L'activité de récolte et son déterminisme.Ins. Soc. 28:297–308.
Lepage, M. G., 1983. Foragingof Macrotermes spp. (Isoptera, Macrotermitinae) in the tropics.Soc. Ins. Trop. 2:205–218.
Lepage, M. G., 1984. Distribution, density and evolution ofMacrotermes bellicosus nests in the north-east of the Ivory Coast.J. Anim. Ecol. 53:107–117.
Marais, E. N., 1973.The Soul of the White Ant. Penguin, 154pp. (reprinted 1984).
Noirot, C., 1970. The nests of termites. In:Biology of Termites, Vol. II (K. Krishna and F. M. Weesner, Eds.), Academic Press, New York, pp. 73–125.
Rajagopal, D. and G. K. Veeresh, 1981. Foraging activity of the mound-building termiteOdontotermes wallonensis (Wasmann) (Isoptera; Termitidae).J. Soil Biol. Ecol. 1:56–64.
Ratcliffe, F. N. and T. Greaves, 1940. The subterranean foraging ofCoptotermes lacteus.J. Comm. Sci. Ind. Res. Aust. 13:150–161.
Wood, T. G., 1978.Food and feeding habits of termites. Production Ecology of Ants and Termites (M. V. Brian, Ed.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lys, J.A., Leuthold, R.H. Morphology of the gallery system around the nest and gallery development under experimental conditions in the termiteMacrotermes bellicosus (Smeathman). Ins. Soc 38, 63–76 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01242714
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01242714