RESEARCH NOTE J. Bioi. Comrol. 9(2):131 - 132. 1995 Phi/ollthus castaneus Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), a predator of Odontotermes redemanni (Wasmann) D. K. SIDDEGOWDA*andD. RAJAGOPAL Department of Entomology University of Agricultural Sciences GKVK, Bangalore-560065, India ABSTRACT: Studies carried out to know the association of staphylinids with termite, Odontotermes redemanni (Wasmann) revealed Phi/onthus castaneus Motschulsky as a po­ tential predator of termites during rainy season. KEY WORDS: Odontotermes redemanni, Phi/onthus castaneus. predator In India, Odontotermes redemanni (Wasrnann) abdomen. leaving the head capsule. After predation cultivates the mushrooms Termitomyces microcarpus they are found to heap the head capsules at one place.. (Berk. and Br.) Heim on the mound surface during About 80 - 120 head capsules are collected from the rainy season. Several species of the staphylinids different places. This storing of head capsule is also found as fungal inhabitants. feed on the fungus in observed inside the damaged and deserted mounds of larval stage; while adults are known to be predatorS Odontotermes obesus Rambur. The abdomen of the (Crowson, 1981; Newton. 1984). However, certain beetle is used as a defensive organ. When a soldier species of staphylinids are found as termitophile termite approach the beetle, it gives lateral blows from associates in the nests ofOdontotermes spp. (Kistner. the abdomen on the frontal region of the termite, till 1969). it is paralysed. On an average about 30 beetles were conected from a single mound. During the rainy seasons of 1986 and t987, a survey was made in and around Bangalore to find out , So far. the records of staphylinids were as the association of staphylinid beetles with T. termitophile associates especially in the mounds of microcarp"s. Observations were made on the feeding Odontotermes spp. (Kistner, 1969; Rajagopal and behaviour of these beetles both under field and Veeresh. 1981). For the first time the pr~datory laboratory conditions. staphyIinids were recorded on termite species in Karnataka. However. some genera ofPhi/onthus were The present investigations revealed that O. known as predators on mycophagous dipteran and redemanni built sub conical closed mounds over other insects (Benick. 1952). which the small mushrooms are cultivated. During the mushroom cultivation, the adults of the staphylinid REFERENCES Phi/onthus castaneus Motschulsky are found to be more aggressive and actively feeding on termites. The BENICK, L. 1952. Pilzkafer und Kaferpilze workers of O. redemanni bring fresh fungal comb Okologische und statistische Untezsuuchungen: Acta Zoologica Fennica, 70: 1-50. fragments along with the basidiocarps and deposit on the mound surface, on which the mushroom T. CROWSON, R. A.(ed.) 1981. The biology of microcarpes grows during the rainy season (Sidde Coleptera.Acadamic Press, New York. Gowda and Rajagopal, 1990). The adults of P. castalleus are found to hide inside the fungal comb KISTNER, H. D. 1969. Biology oftermitophiles. In fragments and attack the termites. They are found to : Biology of Termites VoU (K. Krishna and T. prey on the worker termite by severing at neck region M. Wesner, eds.) Academic Press, New York, by their sharp mandibles and feed only on thorax and London, pp.525-557. 131 Philonrhl/S castaneus a predatorof O. redemanni NEWTON Jr .• A. J. 1984. Mycophagy in Odontoteremes wallonensis (Isoptera Staphylinoidea. In : Fungus-Insect Relationships, Termitidae), Colemania, 1: 129-130. Perspective in Ecology and Evolution. (Q. Wheeler and M. Blackwell, eds.) Columbia U niv. SIDDE GOWDA, D. K. AND RAJAGOPAL, D. Press. New York, pp. 302-353. 1990. Association of Termitomyces spp. with RAJAGOPAL, D. AND VEERESH, G. K. 1981. fungus growing termites. Proc. Indian A cad. Sci. Termitophiles and Termitoriophiles of JAnim. Sci.), 99:311-315. 132 .