Sociobiology 65(1): 24-30 (March, 2018) Special Issue DOI: 10.13102/Sociobiology.V65i1.1784
Sociobiology 65(1): 24-30 (March, 2018) Special Issue DOI: 10.13102/sociobiology.v65i1.1784 Sociobiology An international journal on social insects RESEARCH ARTICLE - TERMITES Termites of Iranian date palm orchards and their spatial and temporal distribution M Latifian1, B Rad1, B Habibpour2 1 - Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO),Horticulture Research institute, Date Palm and Tropical Fruit Research Center, Ahvaz, Iran 2 - Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran Article History Abstract This study was conducted during 2013-2014 to determine the dominant species and Edited by behavior of termites foraging in date palm orchards in Khuzestan province, Iran. Paulo F. Cristaldo, UFS, Brazil Received 06 June 2017 Starting in early March, the ‘cluster random sampling’ method was used within sixty- Initial acceptance 28 July 2017 five sampling plots. Termite species were sampled by breaking open mud tubing and Final acceptance 13 August 2017 collecting different castes, then bringing them to the laboratory for identification Publication date 30 March 2018 using the scientific keys. Glass microscope slides of different body parts, especially the labium, maxillae, palps, mandibles, labrum, and clypeus. The Simpson Diversity Keywords Index was used to determine the level of dominance. Results showed three species Date palm, Iranian termites, temporal distribution, spatial distribution. of termites, Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri, Microcerotermes buettikeriChhotani and Bose and Amitermes vilis Hagen, all family Termitidae, are active in Khuzestan Corresponding author date palm plantations. Microcerotermes diversus was dominant with a correlation Masoud Latifian coefficient 0.997 and 8.87, respectively. Seasonal population fluctuations of workers, Horticulture Research institute nymphs, soldiers and winged castes had several peaks over the years.
[Show full text]