Srinivasa Murthy, K. Available Ind. J. Pure online App. Biosci.at www.ijpab.com (2020) 8(5), 141 -149 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8193 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(5), 141-149 Research Article Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Open Access Journal Diversity and abundance of Subterranean Termites in South India K. Srinivasa Murthy* National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, P B No. 2491, H A Farm Post, Bellary Road Bangalore - 560 024, Karnataka, India *Corresponding Author E-mail: [email protected] Received: 7.07.2020 | Revised: 12.08.2020 | Accepted: 20.08.2020 ABSTRACT The abundance and diversity of subterranean termites was studied in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Keralae, Karnataka and Tamilnadu. Fifteen species of termites belonging to subfamilies Apicotermitinae, Kalotermitidae, Macrotermitinae and Nasutitermitinae, were recorded. The fungus growing termites (Macrotermitinae) accounted for 66.66% abundance, across the states. The Apicotermitinae (soil feeders) and Kalotermitidae (dry wood termites) registered 6.62% each and the dry wood termites (Nasutitermitinae) recorded 20.1% abundance. Among the different species of termites, Odontermes obesus, was more predominant (15.62%) than others. The cropping pattern, soil type and topography predisposed the abundance and diversity of termites. Keywords: Abundance, Cropping pattern, Diversity, Macrotermitinae. INTRODUCTION Ali, et al., 2013) as they play a vital role in Termites (Isoptera) are considered as the most recycling of plant materials and wood, abundant invertebrates and represent up to modifying and improving the soil condition 95% of soil insect biomass show an elaborated and composition, and providing food for other morphology and complex behaviour (Wang, et animals (Ackerman et al. 2009, & Sugimoto et al., 2009) Termites are the serious pests of al., 2000). Termites are also considered as agricultural and horticultural crops that potent catalysts due to their role involved in mainly destroy the roots and above ground converting lignocellulose into biofuels parts and feed on paper, wood and timber (Deivendran, 2013) and contribute to gas (Murthy, et al., 2015). They are classified in exchange, nitrogen fixation, and soil stability about 280 genera, and over 2800 species and quality (Bignell 2000, & Hemachandra et within 14 subfamilies (Eggleton & Tayasu, al., 2010). 2001). In India about 300 species within seven Termites are abundant throughout the families have been reported (Kumar & tropics, subtropics and the temperate regions Pardeshi, 2011). Termites are often referred as of the world. “ecosystem engineers” (Jouquet et al., 2006, & Cite this article: Srinivasa Murthy, K. (2020). Diversity and abundance of Subterranean Termites in South India, Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. 8(5), 141-149. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8193 Copyright © Sept.-Oct., 2020; IJPAB 141 Srinivasa Murthy, K. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(5), 141-149 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 The subterranean termites which are of Molecular Entomology, NBAIR-ICAR economic importance (Wang et al., 2009) to Bangalore, The labeled specimens were agriculture are mostly found in temperate preserved in 75% (v/v) ethyl alcohol. climates. The population density and biomass Taxonomical identification of these specimens determines the extent and dimension of their was done at the Division of Entomology function in an ecosystem (Evans et al., 2011). Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New The composition in a given region is Delhi, Institute of Wood Science Technology predisposed by the habitat disturbance and Bangalore, and Centre for Insect taxonomy, ecological factors (Jones & Eggleton 2000, University of Agricultural Sciences, Pardeshi & Prusty 2010, & Luke et al., 2014). Bangalore, by using the keys of Roonwal and Loss in biodiversity and degradation of natural Chottani (1989), Chottani (1997) and habitats due to climate change and human Kalleshwaraswamy et al. (2013). interference in natural ecosystem has necessitated the need to have an inventory of RESULTS AND DISCUSSION species richness in an ecosystem. Study area The information on species diversity, The study area comprised of four South Indian relative abundance of termites in different states, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala agro-ecological regions of South India has not and Tamilnadu. The states are characterized been adequately addressed. It is imperative to with varied cropping pattern, soil type and understand the species distribution in different geography (Table 1). The plantation crops regions, so to develop a strategy for their (arecanut, coconut, cocoa, coffee, pepper, tea management and conservation in wild habitats and rubber) predominate in the state of Kerala, to maintain the ecological balance. while Karnataka has more diversified pattern with maize, millets, pulses arecanut and MATERIALS AND METHODS vegetables. The type of soil in the states Study area: varied from red loamy, alluvial soils, sandy Surveys were carried out in the southern states loams, red laterite and silty loam. The of India, viz., Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, geographical co-ordinates ranged from 10.52- 0 0 Kerala and Tamilnadu in different locations. 15.51 N, 70.58-83.2 E The geographical co-ordinates in the different Species distribution and abundance locations considered for study ranged from The population of termites were collected from 0 0 10.52-17.89 N, 74.29 - 83.2 E. The study different geographical locations in the country area comprised of different cropping patterns from the four states of South India - Andhra and soil types (Table 1). Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu. Collection and identification of termite The locations surveyed are indicated in samples Table 2. Termite specimens (Soldiers and workers) The distribution of subterranean termites in the were collected from the various locations different states indicated occurrence of fifteen listed in Table 1 by adopting the belt transect species in the locations surveyed. The method (Eggleton et al. 1997, Davies et al., collected termites belonged to the subfamilies 2003, & Anantharaju et al., 2014). Collections Macrotermitinae, Nasutitermitinae were made at three months intervals from Apicotermitinae and Kalotermitidae. The August 2016 to July, 2018. The sampling also Species belonging to sub family included the micro habitat (mounds, leaf litter, Macrotermitinae, outnumbered the others in stump, tree bark, tree logs, bamboo fencing abundance. Ten species of Macrotermitinae, and vegetation) apart from the crop canopy. three species of Nasutitermitinae and one each Contiguous sections of thetransect, measured of Apicotermitinae and Kalotermitidae. 10 sq. m each. The collected specimens were Among the macrotermitinae, Odontermes taken to the laboratory at the Division of obesus registered 15.62% abundance followed Copyright © Sept.-Oct., 2020; IJPAB 142 Srinivasa Murthy, K. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2020) 8(5), 141-149 ISSN: 2582 – 2845 by Odontotermes holmgren (13.24%) and Anantharaju et al. (2014) spotted ten species of Odontotermes longignathus (10.21%) and O. termites belonging to eight genera and three gurdaspurensis (10.04%), in the various families in Northeastern Puducherry. locations (Table 2), while Hypotermes Parween, et al. (2016) found thirteen species makhamensis, Hypotermes xenotermitis and of termite in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Microtermes obesi accounted for low Rajasthan and Haryana and reported the occurrence (1.72% each). Dicuspiditermes maximum occurrence of Odontotermes obesus Krishna registered the least abundance (Macrotermitinae) in these regions. (1.31%). The species Euhamitermes hamatus The percentage distribution of termites and Neotermes koshunensis under the across the different states indicated that the subfamilies, Apicotermitinae and fungus growing termites, Macrotermitinae, Kalotermitidae , respectively recorded 6.62% outnumbered the other groups with 66.66% each. The Nasutitermitinids, occurrence followed by the exclusive soil Nasutitermes exitiosus and Nasutitermes feeders, subfamily Apicotermitinae and the dry octopilis, registered 11.62 and 6.66% wood termites, Kalotermitidae which abundance, respectively. (Fig1). accounted for 6.62% each. The wood feeding The taxonomic composition of termites (sub family Nasutitermitinae) termites and their abundance revealed occurred to the extent of 20.01 % across the occurrence of species diversity with respect to different states (Table 3 and Fig. 2) the area and the cropping pattern. Our The landscapes located in sub-tropical observations in the present study are and low humid temperate region (N 300, 12.57 corroborative with the earlier reports of - 12.97 N and 75.72 - 778.05 E) with a broad diversity of termite species reported by several altitude range (2322 - 2479 msl) facilitated the earlier workers. Earlier, Twenty five species of diversity of termites in different habitats. The termites around 22,400 km2 in three states: correlation between altitude and diversity of Tamil Nadu 400 km2 , Karnataka 13,000 km2 woodfeeding termites in South East Asia was and Kerala 9,000 km2 were sampled in a study stated by Inoue et al (2006) that Subfamily conducted to assess the economic damage Macrotermitinae showed increasing abundance caused to forest trees and ecological habitat by with the increasing altitude. On the contrary, termites (Roonwal & Bose, 1978). Twelve the abundance of Subfamily Nasutitermitinae termite species were identified in