Abstract
Knowledge of preferences in the selection of wood is essential in evaluating the importance of subterranean termites in the removal of superficial dead wood from an ecosystem. Sixty-nine randomly located, circular quadrats were sampled to study the selection of wood by Heterotcrmcs aurens (Snyder), Gnathamitermes per plexus (Banks), Paraneotermes shnplicicomis (Banks) and 3 species of Amitermes. Although H. aureus and G. perplextts are general feeders on ca. 13 species of wood, the former prefers dead wood of desert hackberry and cholla cactus, while the latter prefers fallen cholla joints. The other two termites have more specific tastes: P. simplicicornis prefers catclaw acacia and mesquite and cholla stumps while the Amitermes spp. select catclaw acacia and blue palo-verde. Each termite species thus maintains a fairly exclusive niche through a characteristic mode of attack on a preferential selection of host woods.
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