Seasonal Food Habits of a Desert Termite, Gnathamitermes tubiformans1 , in West Texas 2

Abstract

The diet of Gnathamitermes tubiformans (Buckley) consisted primarily of 3 grass species, Aristida longiseta Steud., red three-awn; Buchloe dactyloides (Null.) Englm., bulfalograss; and Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Griffiths, blue grama. Feeding activity was lowest in the spring and highest in the fall. Over the season red three-awn, buffalograss and blue grama comprised ca. 46, 26, and 24% of the diet, respectively, and were consumed at rates of ca. 27.1, 15.4, and 14.1 g/m2/yr, respectively. Red three-awn was abundant throughout the season and increased in dietary importance through mid- and late summer. Bulfalograss became increasingly abundant during late spring and summer and was utilized most heavily during May, July, and Aug. Blue grama contributed most heavily to the termite diet during spring and early summer and its importance increased slightly again in the fall. It was preferred or highly preferred during most of the season. Living plants were the major dietary component during spring and early summer and standing dead plants were the major dietary component during late summer and fall. Grass litter remained a relatively constant dietary component throughout the season.