Altitudinal Variations in the Mound Nests of Termites Odontotermes Wallonensis and O. obesus

Abstract

The nesting form of the mound nest of species Odontotermes wallonensis(E. Wasmann) and Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) was studied in hilly and tropical deciduous forest area of Kakoijana Reserved Forest of Abhayapuri (Bongaigaon district). It was compared to the plain village forest area of Baksa district (Bajegaon Pather). The morphometric measurement such as height, circumference, depth of the mound nest and the royal chamber from the surface of the ground was recorded along with weight of fungus garden and queen and their sections were photographed. The outcomes revealed that the location of the nest influences the structure and characteristics of the nest. The young and established mound nests of species O. obesus and O. wallonensis in hilly and plain area had different shape, sizes and colour. The shade of the fungus garden was buff i.e., yellowish brown in young nest whereas it was blackish brown in established nests. The queen termite and the royal chamber unable to be excavated were in hilly area as compared to the plain area. In some of the mound nests, no traces of the queen termites and rest of the castes were observed; and the mound was dead i.e., abandoned after the death of queen termite.