Estimation of foraging territories of Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae) in Ahwaz (Iran)
IRG/WP 10-10744
B Habibpour, F Kocheili, M Ekhtelat
Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae), an important wood pest in Ahwaz (Khuzestan, Iran), causes serious economic damage to wooden products in buildings. In this study, the foraging territories of this subterranean termite have been determined by mark-release-recapture technique. Estimated foraging territories for colonies A and B were 25.59 and 44.16 m2, respectively. The maximum and minimum linear foraging distances (m) were 5.40 and 2.14 for colony A and 9.14 and 1.86 for colony B, respectively. Our data extend knowledge about the biology, ecology and behavior of this termite. This information can aid us in evaluating the effectiveness of control methods, and thus can be used to improve management techniques.