Variacion estacional en la composición de colonias de Termes saltans (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae) en un área del Departamento Ituzaingó (Corrientes, Argentina)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30972/fac.1717767Keywords:
Isoptera, Termite, Termes saltans, Castes, ColoniesAbstract
Seasonal variations in colony composition of Termes saltans (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae) in the Ituzaingó Department (Corrientes, Argentina) was analized. Five nests were randomly unearthed in each season and transported to the laboratory to obtain its populations. Observations were cairied out using a stereomicroscope and the presence or absence of workers, soldiers, larvae, white soldiers. nymphs, alates and the royal pair were recorded. The total populations of the colonies and proportions of each caste and inmature stage, excepting eggs, were estimated. The results showed significant seasonal changes in the colony composition, existing only one generation of alates, whose development required most of the year. The swarming occured by the end of springtime or by the beginning of summer. The worker: soldier ratio showed the highest values in winter and the lowest ones in spring. The oviposition and development of larvae and white soldiers decreased considerably in the coid season. Nest dimensión and population size were positively correlated. Significant positive correlations were recorded between white soidiers-larvae and negative correlations between worker-white soldiers, larvae-nymps and soldiers-nymphs.
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