Abstract
A rapid biodiversity evaluation of arboreal termite was carried out on the campus of Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil. Three different trees which include Mangifera indica, Azadirachta indica and Khaya senegalensis were selected from three different sites (campus new site, premises of administrative offices and commercial area) on the campus and examined for termite activity, either arboreal nests or mud tubes which indicated infestation by the termites. Using a soft brush termite samples were collected into a labeled sampling bottle containing 10% formalin solution by cutting open the mud tubes and the nests with a forceps on the trees. A total of one hundred and twelve (112) individuals termites were samples were collected during the study belonging to five species: Coptotermes sp., Microtermes sp., Odontotermes sp., Amitermes sp. and Nutitermes sp. The Coptotermes sp. are the most abundant species both on the trees and the sites. Khaya senegalensis has the greatest diversity of the termite fauna as compared to other trees while campus new site (site A) also has greatest diversity. Coptotermes sp are insects of agricultural economic importance and feed on dead wood; therefore, they are insect pests of these trees and other building structures on the campus.
Highlights
Termites are social insects which live in nests and form colonies
The species of termites least found on trees were Nasutitermes (1.79%) and Amitermes (3.57%), respectively
The results showed that species richness was the same on two (M. indica and K. senegalensis) of the three trees
Summary
Termites are social insects which live in nests and form colonies. They belong to the phylum Arthropoda, class Insecta and order Isoptera. A normal colony of termites consists of nymphs, workers, soldiers and reproductive individuals and in some colonies, several egg laying queens are present [3]. They are decomposers and feed on dead plant materials, leaf litter, soil and animal dung [3]. The population of termites depends on environmental conditions such as food availability, soil texture, soil moisture, and soil temperature [5]. Their movement increases soil micropores through an increase in soil porosity, aeration and soil water permeability [6]
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