This technique of rapidly slicing through an above-ground C. acinaciformis mound colony with a steel wire-loop attached to a vehicle allows the collection of large numbers of termites. The sliced mound topples onto a tarpaulin arranged on the ground, the outer wall layers break away in large segments, and the carton materials incorporating the termites are readily collected and transferred to large plastic containers. Termites are then separated via sieves from the carton into the collection jars and transported to a laboratory insectary for use in laboratory bioassays. This procedure requires only two people, and it is feasible to collect large numbers of termites from four mound colonies of C. acinaciformis within 8 hours. Termites are transferred into containers and transported by air to the insectary in Melbourne for use in laboratory bioassays. This slicing technique does not cause the death of mound colonies, which recover within 3-6 months.

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