Abstract
This study was conducted during 2013-2014 to determine the dominant species and behavior of termites foraging in date palm orchards in Khuzestan province, Iran. Starting in early March, the ‘cluster random sampling’ method was used within sixty-five sampling plots. Termite species were sampled by breaking open mud tubing and collecting different castes, then bringing them to the laboratory for identification using scientific keys. Glass microscope slides of different body parts, especially the labium, maxillae, palps, mandibles, labrum, and clypeus. The Simpson Diversity Index was used to determine the level of dominance. Results showed three species of termites, Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri, Microcerotermes buettikeri Chhotani and Bose and Amitermes vilis Hagen, all family Termitidae, are active in Khuzestan date palm plantations. Microcerotermes diversus was dominant with a correlation coefficient 0.997 and 8.87, respectively. Seasonal population fluctuations of workers, nymphs, soldiers and winged castes had two, four, four and four peaks, respectively, over the years. According to Kriging map spatial distribution, four geographic severity groupings for M. diversus can be considered. These groups include low, medium, and high risk, and hotspot infestation geographic regions, with severity indices of 2.3 to 3.96, 3.97 to 4.82, 4.83 to 5.68, and 5.96 to 6.53, respectively.
Highlights
Several species of termites cause damage in date palm plantations in different regions of the world
Southern and southeastern of Iran have desert climate based on Emberger classification and their ecological conditions are similar to the Arabian Peninsula and southwestern Pakistan (Yousof, 2010)
Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri and Psammotermes rajasthanicus Roonwal and Bose have been reported from all areas with date palm plantations of Iran and Chabahar, respectively (Ghauryfaret al. 2005).Termites from the genera Coptotermes, Psammotermes, Bellicostitermes, and Anacanthotermes ochraceus Burmeister have been reported from Mauritania and Libya, respectively (Pearce, 1997)
Summary
Several species of termites cause damage in date palm plantations in different regions of the world. Twenty-five species of termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) cause damage to wood tissue of date palm trees (Al-Jboory, 2007). Studies show that both temperature and rainfall affect the termite’s geographical distribution. Khuzestan province in the southwest is one of Iran’s warmest provinces This province has suitable climate for the growth and development of termites. Termite diversity of this province is affected by termite fauna in nearby geographic areas such as Persian Gulf and Oman Sea countries including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (Pearce, 1997).
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