Termite Feeding Research Articles

Gut diazotrophs in lagomorphs are associated with season but not altitude and host phylogeny.

Invertebrates such as termites feeding on nutrient-poor substrate receive essential nitrogen by biological nitrogen fixation of gut diazotrophs. However, the diversity and composition of gut diazotrophs of vertebrates such as Plateau pikas living in nutrient-poor Qinghai-Tibet Plateau remain unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) and its related species, Daurian pikas (Ochotona daurica), Hares (Lepus europaeus) and Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) by high-throughput amplicon sequencing methods. We analyzed whether the gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas are affected by season, altitude, and species, and explored the relationship between gut diazotrophs and whole gut microbiomes. Our study showed that Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, and Euryarchaeota were the dominant gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas. The beta diversity of gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas was significantly different from the other three lagomorphs, but the alpha diversity did not show a significant difference among the four lagomorphs. The gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas were the most similarly to that of Rabbits, followed by Daurian pikas and Hares, which was inconsistent with gut microbiomes or animal phylogeny. The dominant gut diazotrophs of the four lagomorphs may reflect their living environment and dietary habits. Season significantly affected the alpha diversity and abundance of dominant gut diazotrophs. Altitude had no significant effect on the gut diazotrophs of Plateau pikas. In addition, the congruence between gut microbiomes and gut diazotrophs was low. Our results proved that the gut of Plateau pikas was rich in gut diazotrophs, which is of great significance for the study of ecology and evolution of lagomorphs.

Feeling a bit peckish: Seasonal and opportunistic insectivory for wild gorillas.

Insectivory likely contributed to survival of early humans in diverse conditions and influenced human cognitive evolution through the need to develop harvesting tools. In living primates, insectivory is a widespread behavior and frequently seasonal, although previous studies do not always agree on reasons behind this. Since western gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) diet is largely affected by seasonal variation in fruit availability, we aimed to test three non-mutually exclusive hypotheses (habitat use, frugivory and rainfall) to explain seasonality in termite feeding across age/sex classes in three habituated groups (Nindividuals = 27) in Central Africa. We used 4 years of ranging, scan and continuous focal sampling records of gorillas (Nranging days = 883, Nscans = 12,384; Nhours = 891) in addition to 116 transects recording vegetation and termite mound distribution. Depending on the age/sex classes, we found support for all three hypotheses. Time spent in termite-rich vegetation positively impacted termite consumption in all age/sex classes, but subadults. Lengthier travels increased termite feeding in females but decreased it in subadults. Frugivory decreased termite consumption in adults. Daily rainfall had a positive effect on termite feeding and foraging in silverbacks and juveniles, but a negative effect in subadults. For females, rainfall had a positive effect on termite feeding, but a negative effect for termite foraging. In great apes, seasonal insectivory seems to be multifactorial and primarily opportunistic with important differences among age/sex classes. While insectivory has potentials to be traditional, it likely played a crucial role during primate evolution (including ours), allowing diet flexibility in changing environments.

Prescribed Burning Alters Insects and Wood Decay in a Sagebrush-Steppe Rangeland in Southwestern Idaho, United States

Prescribed fall burning is commonly used worldwide on rangeland sites to enhance vegetation resources and restore disturbed ecosystems, but little is known about how it may alter microbial communities and insect activities. We used two site treatments (low- to moderate-burn severity plots and unburned control plots) at a high-elevation (2 100 m above sea level) shrub-steppe rangeland site. Four yr after the prescribed burn, captured insects primarily consisted of Coleoptera (beetles), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps), and Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets) species with similar or greater numbers captured on burned plots as compared with unburned plots. We used wood stakes to assess microbial population changes. Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and pine (Pinus taeda L.) wood stakes were placed horizontally on the soil surface and vertically into the mineral to determine microbially altered wood decay rates. In mineral soil, mass loss (wood decay) of both aspen and pine increased significantly in the burned plots after 5 yr. Surface aspen also had increased decay in the burned plots, but pine surface stakes were unaffected. Surprisingly, at this high-elevation site we also found subterranean termites (Reticulitermes tibialis Banks) feeding on both stake species, with greater numbers on aspen stakes in burned plots leading to greater wood mass loss and organic matter turnover rates. Our results suggest that that fall prescribed burning can enhance insect numbers and microbial decay in sagebrush-steppe ecosystems. Understanding these changes can help land managers predict the influence of fall prescribed burning operations on soil biological properties and insect communities.

Impact of Wood Age on Termite Microbial Assemblages.

The decomposition of wood and detritus is challenging to most macroscopic organisms due to the recalcitrant nature of lignocellulose. Moreover, woody plants often protect themselves by synthesizing toxic or nocent compounds which infuse their tissues. Termites are essential wood decomposers in warmer terrestrial ecosystems and, as such, they have to cope with high concentrations of plant toxins in wood. In this paper, we evaluated the influence of wood age on the gut microbial (bacterial and fungal) communities associated with the termites Reticulitermes flavipes (Rhinotermitidae) (Kollar, 1837) and Microcerotermes biroi (Termitidae) (Desneux, 1905). We confirmed that the secondary metabolite concentration decreased with wood age. We identified a core microbial consortium maintained in the gut of R. flavipes and M. biroi and found that its diversity and composition were not altered by the wood age. Therefore, the concentration of secondary metabolites had no effect on the termite gut microbiome. We also found that both termite feeding activities and wood age affect the wood microbiome. Whether the increasing relative abundance of microbes with termite activities is beneficial to the termites is unknown and remains to be investigated. IMPORTANCE Termites can feed on wood thanks to their association with their gut microbes. However, the current understanding of termites as holobiont is limited. To our knowledge, no studies comprehensively reveal the influence of wood age on the termite-associated microbial assemblage. The wood of many tree species contains high concentrations of plant toxins that can vary with their age and may influence microbes. Here, we studied the impact of Norway spruce wood of varying ages and terpene concentrations on the microbial communities associated with the termites Reticulitermes flavipes (Rhinotermitidae) and Microcerotermes biroi (Termitidae). We performed a bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal ITS2 metabarcoding study to reveal the microbial communities associated with R. flavipes and M. biroi and their impact on shaping the wood microbiome. We noted that a stable core microbiome in the termites was unaltered by the feeding substrate, while termite activities influenced the wood microbiome, suggesting that plant secondary metabolites have negligible effects on the termite gut microbiome. Hence, our study shed new insights into the termite-associated microbial assemblage under the influence of varying amounts of terpene content in wood and provides a groundwork for future investigations for developing symbiont-mediated termite control measures.

THE RESISTANCE OF PINUS SYLVESTRIS L. WOOD MODYFIED WITH FURFURYL ALCOHOL FOR DESTRUCTION BY RETICULITERMES LUCIFUGUS VAR. SANTONENSIS (DE FEYTEAUD)

The aim of the research was to determine the changes in susceptibility of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestrisL.) wood to feeding bysubterranean termites Reticulitermes lucifugus var. santonensisconducted in accordance with the ASTM D 3345-08: 2009 Thesapwood after modification in furfuryl alcohol at concentration 50% with the addition citricacidat concentration 1%, naturalsapwood and heartwood experiment as a compulsory reference material were used for the tests.The blocks of Scots pine wood were used to create seasoned samples of 7% ± 1% moisture content.The blocks with dimensions of 25.4 x 25.4 x 6.4 mm were made from three trees. Each variant was represented by 5 blocks. All wood blocks were freeze-dried before starting the experiment in order to measure the dry weight. After 4 weeks of termite feeding visually rates of wooddestructionwere: 9 (light attack) for modified sapwood, 2.8 (heavy attack/failure)for natural sapwood and 8.2 (light attack/moderate attack)for natural heartwood.The loss of wood weight of blocks was: 0.01 gfor modified sapwood, 0.071 g for natural sapwood and 0.21 g for natural heartwood. The mortality of the termites in the case of modified sapwood was complete. The termite mortality in natural sapwood has been classified as slight, and in natural heartwood as slight to complete.

English

Smallholder indigenous chicken (IC) production systems have been associated with low productivity thereby contributing to food insecurity and reduced livelihoods.  Despite this scenario, smallholder IC producers have been harvesting and feeding termites supplementarily. This study determined the demographic characteristics that influence the use of termites as protein supplement for indigenous chicken by smallholder farmers and evaluated the nutrient composition of the most commonly used termite species. Household surveys were conducted to collect data on the socio-demographic characteristics of the farmers and on the use potential of termites as protein supplement to IC. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the collected data using R (version 4.0.2) statistical software. The commonly used Agoro termites (Macrotermes subhylanus) were harvested using trapping method, sun-dried and subjected to proximate analysis. A total of 72.7% of the farmers use termites as a protein supplement to feed IC. Chi square tests for association showed that occupation and education level of the respondents had significant association with termite usage (χ2 =7.319, p-value = 0.042) and (χ2 = 15.241, p-value = 0.004), respectively. Agoro termites were found to be rich in protein (37.7%) and calcium (38.625mg/100g) and could be used as protein supplement for IC. Key words: Indigenous chicken, crude protein, supplement, Siaya, Kenya.

Activity-density and spatial distribution of termites on a fine-scale in a tropical rainforest in Xishuangbanna, southwest China

The community composition and activity-density of termites can influence nutrient cycling and other ecological functions. However, the spatial distribution and the activity-density of termites on a fine-scale in tropical forests are still unknown. We checked the spatial distribution patterns of the feeding groups and species of termites and their co-occurrence pattern in a 1-ha (100 m × 100 m) plot, and their correlation with the environmental factors. We used a standard protocol to collect termite assemblages and classified them into five feeding groups based on their preferred diet: fungus growers, litter feeders, soil feeders, soil-wood feeders, and wood feeders. We measured the environmental factors: soil pH, litter mass, aboveground plant biomass, and topographic position index (TPI). Soil-wood feeders showed the highest activity-density, followed by wood feeders, fungus growers, soil feeders, and litter feeders. Soil-wood feeders and fungus growers demonstated a strong correlation while litter feeders showed weak correlations with other feeding groups. Termite feeding groups and most of the termite species displayed a positive association with the high TPI and the low soil pH patches. Our results indicated that the examined environmental factors influenced the termite community assemblages and distribution patterns on a fine-scale in tropical rainforests.

Precipitation mediates termite functional diversity and dominance in southern Africa

Background: Termites are important ecosystem engineers in the tropics and sub-tropics, so understanding their diversity, particularly their functional diversity, across biogeographical scales is important for understanding where they alter theenvironment and deliver ecological services. Feeding groups combine phylogeneticand dietary information about termites into ecologically significant functional categories.Objectives: To characterise termite feeding group prevalence, distribution and diversity in southern Africa and assess the effect of precipitation on termite diversity and assemblage composition.Method: Termite genus and species-level occurrence data were acquired from the South African Termite Database and classified into one of five feeding groups. We evaluated the prevalence of each feeding group and assessed species and feeding group richness and dominance. Linear regressions were performed to determine the relationship between 1) species richness and precipitation; and 2) feeding group richness and precipitation.Results: We find that southern Africa 1) is dominated by FG-IIw (feeding group – II, wood feeding) termites; 2) is occupied by multiple feeding groups across the entirety of the rainfall gradient; and that precipitation 3) influences feeding group species diversity variably; and 4) causes notable shifts in termite community structure.Conclusion: Our results indicate that termites likely make substantial contributionsto plant material decomposition across southern Africa and that while shifts in feeding group dominance are associated with rainfall gradients, the services unique to individual feeding groups are not isolated to certain regions, but ratherare widespread regardless of the amount of precipitation received.

New Records of Euhamitermes Holmgren From South India

Euhamitermes Holmgren is a soldier rare, soil feeding termite of the Oriental region. Two species of this genus viz., Euhamitermes lighti (Snyder) and Euhamitermes chhotanii Maiti are hereby first reported from southern Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala, respectively. Record of E. chhotanii in Kerala makes an addition of the genus and thus to the termite fauna of Kerala. These two species are redescribed and illustrated based on soldier and workers.

Analysis of Feed Preference of Edible Termites (Isoptera) on Selected Plants and Their Crude Extract Phytochemistry

Termites are social insects that inhabit colonies in the soil. Termites feed on a wide range of plants found within diverse habitats of Luanda Sub-County. This study aimed at assessing feed preference of edible termites and analyzing their phytochemical composition. Termites were exposed to ten different test plants in their natural habitats to assess feed preference. Forty-seven study sites were selected as they had high termite abundance from previous studies. The test plants were Grevillea robusta, sugarcane, maize, blue citronella grass, Eucalyptus, mango, avocado, neem, bamboo and a mixture of all the ten plants. Small pits were dug in the ground where the ten treatments were placed and replicated four times each. The test plants were placed in the evening then covered with soil block. The number of termites feeding on the test plants was counted after 12 hours the following day. There were separate trials for crushed and uncrushed feed substrates. The feed substrates that showed high feed preference was selected for phytochemical analysis. The plants whose crude extract was obtained were Grevillea robusta, bamboo, Eucalyptus, cypress, maize and sugarcane. The results for this study were analysed using one-way ANOVA. The study revealed that crushed feed substrates had a high level of feed preference by termites p a. Phytochemical analysis of the crude plant extracts revealed that Eucalyptus had the highest number of phytochemicals present 9 out of 12. The identified phytochemicals were saponins, tannins, alkaloids, resins, cardiac glycosides, carbohydrates, phenols and flavones.

Soil-feeding termite diversity and abundance in a natural tropical humid forest (Tai National Park, Côte d'Ivoire)

This study aimed to contribute to the soil-feeding termite knowledge in the primary, secondary and swampy forest inside Taï National Park (Côte d’Ivoire). The objective was to assess the diversity and abundance of soil-feeding termite species in these different habitats. With a standardized method, data were collected on soil-feeding termite from habitats. The results showed a significant variation of soil-feeding termite subfamilies between the habitat types. 45 soil feeding termites species and morpho species have been recorded and identified. They belong to the Termitidae family, 3 subfamilies (Apicotermitinae, Cubitermitinae, and Termitinae), 28 genera and 428 occurrences. The highest occurrence of species (70.60%) belongs to the Apicotermitinae subfamily followed by the Termitinae (16.14%) and the Cubitermitinae (13.25%). This study has identified some new species belonging to the Apicotermitinae subfamily in the Tai National Park using the anatomy of the gut of workers. These new species will be described later.

Continental‐scale shifts in termite diversity and nesting and feeding strategies

Typically, termites are treated as a single guild, which ignores important internal diversity, including diverse feeding and nesting traits. These termite traits are crucial for both ecosystem‐level fluxes and trophic webs, with implications for vertebrate species. Despite their ecological importance, the large‐scale distribution of termite feeding and nesting traits and the relationship with termite diversity is largely unknown. We investigated whether functional diversity, species richness and feeding (wood, litter, grass and dung) and nesting trait (aboveground mound, belowground nest, inside tree or outside tree nest) distributions of termites were climatically controlled. To address this gap, we assembled a continental‐scale database of termite traits and occurrence in Australia and modelled termite nesting and feeding traits in response to macroclimate. Functional richness and evenness increased primarily with temperature. Australia showed multiple hotspots of termite diversity with each hotspot showing a distinct guild composition. The large‐scale distribution of nesting traits showed that aboveground nesting species were the most common nesting guild in the dry and wet tropics, while belowground nesting dominated in seasonally cold arid environments, demonstrating a strong climatic control on nesting strategy. Given their large biomass and many interactions with other species, the macroecology of termite traits may be especially important in predicting shifts in other species' distributions at continental and global scales.

Termite Presence and Feeding on Loblolly Pine Wood Differs Among Four Root-Infecting Bluestain (ophiostomatoid) Fungal Species.

Bark beetles and root weevils can impact forests through tree death on landscape scales. Recently, subterranean termites have been linked to these beetles via the presence of bluestain fungi (Ascomycota: Ophiostomataceae), which are vectored to trees by beetles. However, only a small subset of bluestain species have been examined. Here, we tested whether termite-bluestain association patterns in the field reflect termite feeding preference in laboratory choice trials. We documented the presence of four bluestain fungi (Leptographium procerum (W.B. Kendr.), L. terebrantis (Barras & Perry), Grosmannia huntii (Rob.-Jeffr.), and G. alacris (T.A. Duong, Z.W. de Beer & M.J. Wingf.) in the roots of 2,350 loblolly pine trees in the southeastern United States and whether termites were present or absent on these roots and paired this with laboratory choice feeding trials. Termites were found 2.5-fold on tree roots with at least one bluestain fungus present than tree roots without bluestain fungi. Although termites in this study and others were associated with L. procerum, L. terebrantis, and marginally G. huntii, termites only showed preferential feeding on wood inoculated with G. huntii in laboratory trials. This suggests that increased termite presence on wood with bluestain fungi may be driven by factors other than increased wood palatability. Termites could thus disproportionately affect wood turnover rates for specific pools (e.g., bark beetle and root weevil attacked trees) and in some cases (e.g., G. huntii) accelerate wood decomposition. This study supports the growing evidence that the association between subterranean termites and bluestain fungi is spatially and taxonomically widespread.

The Effect of Variables on Laboratory Termite Testing: Part 3 - Test Block Density and Moisture Content

The objective of this study was to determine the impact on termite feeding of wood ring count and MC in standard tests. Introduced species (Coptotermes formosanus) were tested in an American Wood Protection Association (AWPA) E1-97 standard laboratory test. Samples with a ring count in the range of 6 – 10 rings per inch (RPI) had a higher, but not significantly different, weight loss than the 4 – 6 RPI specified by E1-97. With respect to the MC, it was determined that a lower level of moisture than that currently specified by AWPA E1 would be preferred over the higher MC achieved in ASTM D3345. Sample placement on top of the sand was recommended over the burial procedure in ASTM D3345.

Spatial structure of rainforest termites: Two matched pioneering cross‐continental case studies

AbstractTermites are vital parts of the soil biota in tropical regions, but their spatial ecology is barely studied. Here, termites were surveyed in two one‐hectare plots, to investigate spatial patterns of soil‐dwelling termites in old growth rainforest. Ecological interactions tested were as follows: (1) environmental relationships; (2) termite feeding groups; and (3) termites and predatory ants. The studies were in Africa (Gabon, Ivindo) and in Asia (Malaysia, Sabah, Danum Valley). In both locations, the wood‐feeding termites had an aggregated spatial structure at fine scales, while the humus‐feeding termites had a continuous distribution. Environmental variables were similar, but only two associations were consistent across sites. Termite feeding groups along the humification gradient were consistently disassociated. Significant associations were detected between predatory ants and termites in both sites: however, their scale and direction differed. This shows that the termite‐mediated ecosystem processes associated with wood‐ and humus‐feeding termite were provided at similar spatial scales, but that for humus‐feeding termites the intensity varied due to differences between the two plots. Competition at the functional level may be an important interaction, the nature of which is affected by resource availability, which is more limiting for wood‐feeding termites. We hypothesize that predation by ants may be important, but the structure of these relationships varies between the two study plots. All of these preliminary patterns need to be tested in fully replicated studies, but future studies may be constrained due to the sampling effort being so great for even a single survey.Abstract in French is available with online material.

Furfurylation of wood from fast-growing tropical species to enhance their resistance to subterranean termite

The purpose of this study was to use furfurylation to enhance the resistance of wood to subterranean termite attack. Wood samples were obtained from four fast-growing tropical wood species, namely sengon (Falcataria moluccana), jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba), mangium (Acacia mangium), and pine (Pinus merkusii), felled at a short cutting rotation. Specimens were impregnated with furfuryl alcohol (FA) solution and tartaric acid as a catalyst and then heated at 100 °C for 24 h. After conditioning, the specimens were exposed to subterranean termite attack in the laboratory according to the Indonesian standard. Furfurylated samples were found to have a higher density presumably because poly-FA filled the void space. It also had a lower moisture content because of the presence of poly-FA bulking in the wood cell wall, making it more hydrophobic. Furfurylation greatly enhanced subterranean termite attack resistance of wood, as shown by remarkably higher termite mortality, higher wood resistance class, lower wood weight percent loss, and reduced termite feeding rate. Based on the Indonesian standard, in which class I indicates very resistant wood and class V indicates very poorly resistant wood, untreated wood was class IV, but all furfurylated wood specimens were rated as class I.

The Effect of Variables on Laboratory Termite Testing: Part 4—Test Block Species, Size, and Test Photoperiod

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the impact on termite feeding of wood sample size and species and test photoperiod in standard tests. Native species (Reticulitermes flavipes) and introduced species (Coptotermes formosanus) were tested in an American Wood-Preservers' Association E1 standard laboratory test. For testing involving treated wood, southern yellow pine was determined to be preferable to spruce based on its treatability and availability. Test blocks of 25 by 25 by 6 mm were deemed adequate for testing, with large blocks presenting difficulty with retrieval of termites to determine mortality and smaller blocks being consumed too rapidly by the termites in the test. Photoperiod comparisons were not significantly different for R. flavipes; however, C. formosanus indicated a preference for 100 percent darkness. Therefore, the recommendation is to maintain tests using each species in a 100 percent dark environment.

Ecological Specialization and Evolutionary Reticulation in Extant Hyaenidae.

During the Miocene, Hyaenidae was a highly diverse family of Carnivora that has since been severely reduced to four species: the bone-cracking spotted, striped, and brown hyenas, and the specialized insectivorous aardwolf. Previous studies investigated the evolutionary histories of the spotted and brown hyenas, but little is known about the remaining two species. Moreover, the genomic underpinnings of scavenging and insectivory, defining traits of the extant species, remain elusive. Here, we generated an aardwolf genome and analyzed it together with the remaining three species to reveal their evolutionary relationships, genomic underpinnings of their scavenging and insectivorous lifestyles, and their respective genetic diversities and demographic histories. High levels of phylogenetic discordance suggest gene flow between the aardwolf lineage and the ancestral brown/striped hyena lineage. Genes related to immunity and digestion in the bone-cracking hyenas and craniofacial development in the aardwolf showed the strongest signals of selection, suggesting putative key adaptations to carrion and termite feeding, respectively. A family-wide expansion in olfactory receptor genes suggests that an acute sense of smell was a key early adaptation. Finally, we report very low levels of genetic diversity within the brown and striped hyenas despite no signs of inbreeding, putatively linked to their similarly slow decline in effective population size over the last ∼2 million years. High levels of genetic diversity and more stable population sizes through time are seen in the spotted hyena and aardwolf. Taken together, our findings highlight how ecological specialization can impact the evolutionary history, demographics, and adaptive genetic changes of an evolutionary lineage.

Limited evidence of C4 plant consumption in mound building Macrotermes termites from savanna woodland chimpanzee sites.

Stable isotope analysis is an increasingly used molecular tool to reconstruct the diet and ecology of elusive primates such as unhabituated chimpanzees. The consumption of C4 plant feeding termites by chimpanzees may partly explain the relatively high carbon isotope values reported for some chimpanzee communities. However, the modest availability of termite isotope data as well as the diversity and cryptic ecology of termites potentially consumed by chimpanzees obscures our ability to assess the plausibility of these termites as a C4 resource. Here we report the carbon and nitrogen isotope values from 79 Macrotermes termite samples from six savanna woodland chimpanzee research sites across equatorial Africa. Using mixing models, we estimated the proportion of Macrotermes C4 plant consumption across savanna woodland sites. Additionally, we tested for isotopic differences between termite colonies in different vegetation types and between the social castes within the same colony in a subset of 47 samples from 12 mounds. We found that Macrotermes carbon isotope values were indistinguishable from those of C3 plants. Only 5 to 15% of Macrotermes diets were comprised of C4 plants across sites, suggesting that they cannot be considered a C4 food resource substantially influencing the isotope signatures of consumers. In the Macrotermes subsample, vegetation type and caste were significantly correlated with termite carbon values, but not with nitrogen isotope values. Large Macrotermes soldiers, preferentially consumed by chimpanzees, had comparably low carbon isotope values relative to other termite castes. We conclude that Macrotermes consumption is unlikely to result in high carbon isotope values in either extant chimpanzees or fossil hominins.

Rehabilitation practices in cocoa agroforestry systems mitigate outbreaks of termites and support cocoa tree development and yield

Most smallholder cocoa farmers in West Africa are not equipped with the necessary tools, techniques, and practices to rejuvenate their aging cocoa farms. Instead, they rather prefer to establish new cocoa farms at the expense of forest remnants. Poor management of their overaged farms has resulted in the emergence and outbreaks of new pest species such as termites feeding on the remaining productive trees and negatively affecting overall yield. We investigated how rehabilitation pruning of cocoa trees influences termite outbreaks and yield in three cocoa agroforestry systems (rustic, intermediate and full sun systems). We monitored cocoa and non-cocoa trees at different development stages after rehabilitation pruning and assessed termite diversity and damage. We demonstrated that farm rehabilitation practices are associated with high beta diversity of shade trees and linked with a high diversity of beneficial termite species. Cocoa trees and farm age were positively correlated with the level of infestation by termite species. We also showed that rehabilitation practices improve cocoa tree vigor and yield in cocoa agroforestry systems with the intermediate systems as the most productive after pruning (167 % of yield increase after pruning). Rehabilitation pruning is a suitable practice to rejuvenate aging trees and increase short-term cocoa yield while mitigating the negative effects of insect pests such as termites. It could be recommended as an effective measure for sustainable cocoa production, thereby enhancing ecosystem services provided by local biodiversity and avoiding forest clearance.