• Source: Odontotermes

Odontotermes is a termite genus belonging to subfamily Macrotermitinae (fungus-growing termites), which is native to the Old World. They are most destructive in wooden homes, and are agricultural pests in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and Asia. It is the most diverse termite genus in Africa, with 78 species recorded (as of 2002).




Nests


Their underground nests form a slight mound above ground, which may be covered in grass. In large colonies, the mounds may be up to 6 m (20 ft) in diameter, and may be covered by shrubs and trees. Some species construct open chimneys or vent holes that descend into the mound. The fungal garden is enveloped by a thick layer of clay.




Castes


The queen lives in a clay cell in the midst of the fungal garden at the center of the hive. The African species have a single soldier caste, unlike the related genus Macrotermes.
Alarmed soldier termites of Odontotermes badius Haviland 1898 expel an odoriferous brown defensive secretion between their mandibles that becomes sticky and rubbery on exposure to air. The secretion is a mixture of benzoquinone and protein.




Food


Their only food is the fungus grown in the fungal garden at the center of the nest. The fungus is cultivated on a substrate of wood, bark, leaf litter, dry dung, and dead grass. These are plastered with cement where they are obtained, which facilitates diurnal foraging. Odontotermes species are major contributors to litter decomposition. The fungus Termitomyces reticulatus is found in association with O. badius and O. transvaalensis in Africa.




Species


Species include:

Odontotermes assmuthi Holmgren, 1913 – South Asia
Odontotermes badius (Haviland, 1898) – Africa
Odontotermes ceylonicus (Wasmann, 1902) – South Asia
Odontotermes escherichi Holmgren, 1911 – South Asia
Odontotermes feae (Wasmann, 1896) – South Asia
Odontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) – South Asia
Odontotermes globicola (Wasmann, 1902) – South Asia
Odontotermes horni (Wasmann, 1902) – South Asia
Odontotermes koenigi (Desneux, 1906) – South Asia
Odontotermes latericius (Haviland, 1898) – Africa
Odontotermes obesus (Rambur) – South Asia
Odontotermes preliminaris (Holmgren, 1911) – South Asia
Odontotermes redemanni (Wasmann, 1893) – South Asia
Odontotermes taprobanes (Walker, 1853) – South Asia
Odontotermes transvaalensis (Sjöstedt, 1902) – Africa
Odontotermes wallonensis Wasmann – South Asia




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References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Odontotermes
• Odontotermes globicola
• Odontotermes redemanni
• Odontotermes horni
• Odontotermes obesus
• Odontotermes koenigi
• Odontotermes assmuthi
• Odontotermes taprobanes
• Odontotermes formosanus
• Odontotermes feae