Comparison of nest structure and caste parameters of sympatric species of Odontotermes (Termitidae, Macrotermitinae) in Kenya

Abstract

Four species of Odontotermes are common in semi-arid grassland around Kajiado. They all build centralised nests consisting of a cluster of discrete chambers housing the fungus combs. In at least one nest of each species all the chambers were measured and mapped, and the fungus combs extracted, dried and weighed. Three species, O. monodon, O. anceps and O. tanganicus, build "classical" nests with open vertical shafts that link up underground, apparently acting as a ventilation system. The fourth species O. zambesiensis has no open shafts and no ventilation system. Each of the four species has fungus combs that are distinctly different in structure. In only one species, O. tanganicus, are they much different in mean weight, and in all four species the weights overlap. Absolute and relative values of the dry weights of each caste are similar for different nests of the same species, but differ between species. The data suggest that the four sympatric species form a suite based on relative size of the soldier caste, but this does not extend to other sympatric species of Macrotermitinae. Some taxonomic difficulties are pointed out.