English

Getahun Debelo Daniel

doi:10.5897/jen2018.0216

Abstract

To date Macrotermes subhyalinus and Macrotermes herus are the only two species of termites of the genus Macrotermes recorded in Ethiopia. The description given to them in terms of distribution and their mound morphology is contrary to the literature and the species checklist is not exhaustive. This paper compares mound distribution and dimensions in Western, Central, and Southern Ethiopia and provides species checklist based on external mound morphology. Four termite hotspot districts were selected from each region as replicates and an area of 100 x 100 m was delineated. All mounds in the area were counted to determine their density. Five mounds were randomly selected and their dimensions measured. External morphology of mounds was studied to determine the species. There were significant differences (P Central > Western. In Southern and western region, mound density was 16.7 ± 1.53 (mean ± standard error) and 5.3 ± 4.16, while mound height was 2.9 ± 1.69 and 0.3 ± 0.24 m, respectively. The checklist included seven species: M. herus from Western; M. subhyalinus, M. natalensis and M. herus from Central; M. michaelseni, M. jeanneli, M. natalensis, M. falciger, and Macrotermes SpA (an unidentified sp.) from Southern Ethiopia. Except M. subhyalinus and M. herus, the other species were recorded for the first time in Ethiopia to our knowledge. Key words: Closed mounds, low mounds, Macrotermes termites, mound morphology, open chimney mounds.

Highlights

Over 3,000 species of termites are known (Munthali et al, 1999) that are grouped under seven families and 281 genera (Grohmann et al, 2010; Logan et al, 1990; Pearce, 1999)
The external morphology of termite mounds was examined in three termite hotspot regions of Ethiopia: Western Ethiopia (Western Wallaga Zone), Central Ethiopia (Central Rift Valley - Eastern Shawa Zone), and Southern Ethiopia (Borana Zone), all found in Oromia National State (Figure 1)
Only two species of the genus Macrotermes, M. subhyalinus and M. herus are reported in Ethiopia

Summary

Introduction

Over 3,000 species of termites are known (Munthali et al, 1999) that are grouped under seven families and 281 genera (Grohmann et al, 2010; Logan et al, 1990; Pearce, 1999). Very few specialists are able to identify tropical termite species and many of the economically important groups lack proper taxonomic revision, resulting in a large number of incorrect, doubtful or incomplete identifications (UNEP, 2000). Lack of their taxonomic understanding has been a major impediment to the study and management of these termites. Termite identification is generally based on the alates’ or the major soldiers’ caste morphological characters This conventional method is not always reliable, especially when the similarities between species are very close (Abdurahman et al, 2010)

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